Kokeshi 0132

 "Children" by  Inosuke Kobayashi. 32 cm 

Kobayashi, Inosuke | 1931-

Biographical Information:

Kobayashi was born in 1931 in Gunma Prefecture and died early, with no published record of his death. He studied oil painting while in school, and evident in his works of which several were awarded the coveted Prime Minister award in 1979. As collectors, it was most important to represent Kobayashi-san along with all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, whether or not the artist has a written account of his or her life.

As collectors, we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, whether or not each artist has a written account of his/her life. We show the diversity of cultural values and the creative work produced by a multitude of artists. In researching old writings through articles and books that remain, it is evident that the Kokeshi Craftsperson not only created beautiful forms as toys, but also kept alive cultural values, customs, and fashion through the extensive representations of Kokeshi dolls. The beauty is in the doll and not the signatures, for most masters never signed their dolls. Later they named the dolls, but only when Westerners insisted on signatures because they did not know the artists, so the carvers began to sign their works, for the carvers wanted to promote sales to make a living, during the seasons that did not provide an environment to continue their otherwise daily work.