Japanese Kuroda Bushi Sumo Hakata Ningyo Unglazed Ceramic Doll Mid-century

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Japanese Kuroda Bushi Sumo Hakata Ningyo Unglazed Ceramic Doll Mid-century

About the Item

Kuroda bushi (Hakata doll) Hakata dolls (called Hakata ningyo in Japanese) are unglazed clay dolls produced in the city of Hakata, in the Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. The characteristic features of a true Hakata doll is the impressive quality of muted soft colors, delicate carved emotional expressions with fine engraved beautiful curves. The grace of this craft has received heavy attention at numbers of exhibitions both in Japan and overseas since the 1900 Paris World Exposition. Hakata dolls appeared in the 1890 National Industrial Exhibition in Japan and in the Exposition Universelle in 1900 and became a topic of discussion. The "Dolls of the World" which were made with Hakata techniques and were so popular at the Paris World Expo, are now in a collection at the General Research Museum at Tokyo University. Delicately made with rich coloration, these "Dolls of the World" were sold for 1 yen and 50 sen at the time. At the end of the 19th century, Hakata dolls transformed from simple biscuit-fired toys to works of art. Master craftsman Rokusaburo Shirouzu began to study colour theory, human proportions, and other modern artistic theories and techniques under Itusyo Yada, an oil painter, which led to the production of more realistic Hakata. Yoichi Kojima, a student of Rokusaburo Shirouzu, won a gold medal in Paris' 1925 International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts for his Hakata dolls, and fellow students Kihei Harada and Yoichi Oayu were awarded silver medals. The history of Hakata dolls dates back to 1600 after the battle of Sekigahara, when Nagamasa Kuroda (a feudal lord 1568-1623) began to rule the area then called Chikuzen (currently Fukuoka prefecture). During the construction of his Fukuoka castle, a tile maker named Soshichi Masaki offered dolls made of tile clay, which are believed to be the origin of Hakata doll. Later, unglazed clay dolls and their manufacturing techniques gradually spread all over the city of Hakata, and would become the foundation of Hakata doll culture. However the prototype of the current Hataka dolls emerged after 1818, during the Bunsei era (1818-1830) in the Edo period (1603-1868). The colorful unglazed clay dolls made by Kichibei Nakanoko are regarded as the ancestor of Hakata dolls. Method of production: 1. Preparing the clay Clay from the environs of Fukuoka is prepared by the artisan. They first hit the heavy lump, then roll and knead it to remove air pockets and ensure a smooth texture until it eventually becomes as soft as an earlobe. 2. Modeling Imagining the finished doll with its robes, facial expression and gestures is an important part of the production process. Using a spatula and their fingertips, the artisan draws out the doll"s body, hands, feet, head and face. It is a time-consuming and delicate task requiring not only skills but also an artistic flair and it may take several months. 3. Molding This process involves dividing the finished doll"s model into segments before casting them in plaster, making sure each section is as small as possible. By dividing the model into small pieces, the subtle expression which is the characteristic of Hakata dolls can be accurately and beautifully copied from the model. A clay wall is constructed around the edge of the model and plaster poured in to make a mold, which is then left to dry in the shade for around three days. 4. Making of the doll"s body Small blocks of clay of 3cm square and 1 cm deep are prepared. The details of the doll are made by pasting several of these small clay slabs together with diluted clay called dobe before pressing them with the thumbs into the finished plaster mold. When completed, the clay doll is carefully removed from the plaster mold to reveal a replica in clay, which is then left to dry. As the doll is hollow, this allows an even firing to the very center of the core. 5. Firing The dried doll is biscuit-fired in an electric or gas-fired kiln. The absorption of color is improved by starting at a low temperature gradually rising to around 900ºC. 6. Coloring The underfired clay doll receives many undercoats called gofun, or shell pigments in the face. After this, attention is paid to the robes and color applied in the order of kimono, obi belt, followed by any patterns. In addition, gold coloring or embossing may be applied according to the design. 7. Applying the make up Only the most experienced artisans are skilled enough to put the finishing touches to the face of the doll, which will decide the quality of the finished piece. The artisan captures the spirit of the doll by drawing the facial expression, first the red lips, then the eyes and eyebrows. This step by step process is known as tsuya. 8. Completion After several months and a variety of processes, a Hakata doll is finally completed.

Dimensions:
Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Ceramic
Place of Origin:
Japan
Period:
Late 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1960
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Good vintage, minor age appropriate wear possible.
Seller Location:
Brooklyn, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU4190313055922