Technique
【Movie (under construction) 】Production period is half a year
I followed the production process of Katsushika Hokusai doll
The first time We visited Tsukada Studio was in early April 2017. At that time it was in the middle of fabric making, which is the basic stage of doll making.
From the concept stage, the doll making was already around 4 months already.
The doll is made to exhibit at the exhibition to be held in Sumida Ward in June, so Katsushika Hokusai has been chosen as a theme by the land.
We edited the process to completion into a video that is easy to understand.
Each process of production will be announced in the following section.
Rare items left by the fourth generation
It is rare for wooden prototype and finished product to be complete
The two dolls which had been exhibited at the showcase of Mr. Tsukada workshop, are now a very rare wooden prototype and its finished product.
Mr. Tsukada's grandfather, Mr. Syunzan's work, the dolls with the theme of war are very rare, the wooden prostheses using wooden prototypes are not produced now, much less their finished goods and prototypes come in sets It seems rare that it is.
Mr. Tsukada accidentally found this wooden prototype on the Internet and was bought.
Tsukada Studio have a museum that displays such rare dolls and how to make Edo Kimekomi Dolls in an easy to understand manner, so if you are interested please drop in by all means.塚田工房様HP
The original material is sawdust of paulownia
Ideal hardness is achieved by mixing sawdust and glue
The material of the prototype of Edo Kimekomi Dolls is mainly sawdust of paulownia.
If you properly mix and paste glue and water into sawdust of paulownia, you will be able to make a prototype of an ideal doll with hardness and lightness.
The raw material of glue is starch extracted from wheat flour. Mix flour with a small amount of salt water to make a rice cake shape, put it for a while, then rub it in water, the gluten in the flour condense separates and precipitates.
The refined product of the precipitated powder is raw material of glue.
Glue is used today as an adhesive which is indispensable for the restoration of cultural properties, even now.
Not much need for tools
Hera and a brush, afterwards technique
If it is a woodworking product, you can use dozens of different chisels and planes, but there are not many tools needed to produce Edo Kimekomi Dolls.
The necessary tools are several kinds of spatula and several brushstrokes, and there are no big electric equipments etc anywhere in the workshop.ｃ
Although Tsukada Studio accepts the production experience of Edo Kimekomi Dolls, it is very popular as a traditional crafting experience that can be easily done.
【Fabric construction】
The prototype molded with glue sawdust and pasted glue has been used as a prototype of a doll for a long time because it is light and strong.
When mass-producing a doll's body, pour the ingredients into the kettle, pull out the solids and dry it.
There are craftsmen who specialize in the fabric of the fuselage, and in many workshops, it is common to purchase dolls from professional craftsmen to make dolls.
Coat the finished fabric with a mixture of husky (powder) on the surface and glue in the shell.
【Inserting】
Put the glue in the groove dug in the fabric and use a spatula to firmly insert the fabric that has been cut according to the pattern paper into the groove.ｃ
Rather than putting on kimonos on dolls, this process of inserting fabrics into the grooves dug into the fabric and integrating them is also the biggest feature of Edo Kimekomi Dolls.ｃ
【Handwriting】
手描きだから一体一体表情が違う
人形の顔の製作は、頭造り専門の職人がいるほど重要な工程であり、人形の命と言われています。 筆一本で様々な種類の人形の表情を表現するには、長年の経験が必要であり、職人のセンスが問われる非常に繊細な作業と言えます。
【Hair combining】
For a doll's hair, use a thread dyed black silk thread called Suga thread. Combine the yarn with a comb well, cut and paste the tip and paste it.
The hair is attached from the first short part, and then the long hair is implanted in the hole in which the long hair is engraved in succession and finish it.