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This vintage Japanese shikishi depicts an elegant, stylised kokeshi, composed of bold floral forms in deep red, dark green and black. The serene face with closed eyes is crowned by a striking red head decoration, while flowers and curving leaves form the body of the figure.
The work is signed 仙台 朝倉きぬ 七十一才 – Sendai, Asakura Kinu, age 71. Asakura Kinu (朝倉きぬ, 1918–2018)was a traditional kokeshi artisan associated with the Tōgatta tradition. After moving to Sendai in 1947, she began decorating kokeshi. From the 1960s onwards, she continued the traditional visual language of her husband, kokeshi maker Asakura Eiji.
The inscription of her age provides an unusually useful clue for dating the work. Kinu was born in 1918 and signed this piece at the age of 71, placing the shikishi around 1989–1990. Comparable shikishi by Kinu are documented, including an almost identical composition signed when she was 72.
The composition beautifully translates the visual language of traditional kokeshi into a two-dimensional artwork. With only a few colours and confident brushwork, face, flowers and ornament merge into a graceful and highly distinctive figure.
Dimensions: approx. 24 × 27 cm
Would you like to discover more about shikishi and their place within Japanese art and culture? Read more in our Tamashii Guide.
Every vintage piece in our collection has its own story and bears the marks of its past. Please examine the photographs carefully for an honest impression of its condition and any signs of age or use.
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