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Shiokawa BUNRIN et al
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A fine Kyoto gassaku painting. ( A collaborative work by a group of friends. ) Shows a lobster by Shiokawa Bunrin ( 1808-1877 ), a pupil of Toyohiko; clams by Hasegawa Gyokuho ( 1822-1879 ) a pupil of Keibun; a sea bream by Yokoyama Seiki ( 1792-1864 ) a pupil of Keibun; and a stingray by Murase Soseki ( 1822-1877 ), a pupil of Keibun and Seiki. Four masters of the Shijo school. A large painting in full colour on silk in very good condition, 52.5 x 27.5 in; 133.5 x 70 cms. Mount in very good condition.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1798-1861)
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Ogata Shuma Hiroyuki ( later Jiraiya ) from Honcho Suikoden goyu happyaku-nin no hitori, “Eight Hundred Heroes of our Country’s Suikoden, One by One.” Shows the brigand with a heavy o-zutsu, hand cannon, bearing down on an enormous snake which had been preying on his friends the toads. Published c 1830 by Kaga-ya Kichiyemon. Robinson S4.12. Fine design.
Very good impression and colour. Slightly trimmed right and bottom, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)
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The actor Segawa Roko III as the Lady Onoe in the play Yanoji Musubi hana no gyoretsu, performed at the Nakamura-za Theatre, 4/1806.
Very good impression and colour. Minor creasing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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A diptych showing the actor Otani Tomoemon V as the loyal servant Gakuzo (aka Inukawa Sosuke Yoshito, one of the eight Dog half-brothers), brush in hand, having just hung the decapitated head of the evil Aboshi on a tree and written beside it: Kore ha akuto Aboshi Samojiro nari. Aruiwa hizo tachi, “This is the villain Aboshi Samojiro… He [stole] a treasured sword [Murasame – the treasured sword of the Ashikaga family].” Shows a scene from an episode in Part III, volume 5 of the Satomi Hakkenden no uchi, “Tales of the Eight Dogs of the Satomi Clan.” The macabre tale, written by Kyokutei Bakin (1767-1848) in 98 chapters and 106 booklets, revolves around the eight offspring of a supernatural marriage between a princess and her father’s dog and their commitment to restore the fortunes of the samurai house of Satomi. Published by Tamaya Sosuke 1868. Very rare: Keyes in his dissertation on Yoshitoshi lists just the right sheet from an oban series, presumably the print in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, ART568220, and another impression of just the right sheet is owned by Tateyama City in Chiba Prefecture.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Kaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. (Keyes attributes this print to Yoshitoshi as he hadn’t seen the left sheet.)
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An original drawing showing a village scene with a man bending to speak with a woman in a kago. Most likely a design for one sheet of a triptych. Sumi on thin paper. 14 x 9.5 in., 35.5 x 24.5 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An original drawing showing a full length study of a woman. Sumi on thin paper. 19.5 x 10.5 in., 50 x 27 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An original drawing showing two full length female studies. Sumi on thin paper. 14.5 x 10 in., 36.5 x 25.5 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An original drawing showing a full length study of a woman surrounded with various vignettes of the same model. Sumi and pentimenti on thin paper. 14.5 x 10.5 in., 37 x 26.5 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An original drawing showing a seated woman offering sushi on a platter. Sumi and pentimenti on thin paper. 12 x 9 in., 30 x 23 cms.
Status: Sold
Kobayashi KIYOCHIKA (1847-1915)
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An original giga hand-scroll by Kiyochika, sumi and colour on paper, 504 inches x 10.5 inches. Shows the progress of a horseman on observing a beauty and attendant. Kiyochika, one of the last great ukiyoe artists, studied oil painting under Charles Wirgman, and ukiyoe painting with Kyosai and Zeshin. This was probably an orihon ( folding album ) which has been remounted as a hand- scroll. Dated at end: Meiji tsuchino-e inu, March 1898 and sealed Kiyochika no in.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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A rare complete triptych hanshita-e (original drawing for a print). Presumably never published. A procession at Akasaka (?).
Signed Hiroshige ga on first sheet.
Status: Sold
Matsumura GOSHUM (1752-1811)
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A boy feeding geese. Sumi and light colour on paper, lightly laid onto card. From an album. 27 x 34 cms; 10.6 x 13.4 inches.
Good condition. Sealed Goshun no in.
Status: Sold
Tsubaki CHINZAN (1801-1954)
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Hovering dragonflies. Sumi and colour on paper. 28 x 35.8 cms; 11 x 13.9 inches.
Good condition. Unsigned but from a fully signed album.
Status: Sold
Kawanabe KYOSAI (1831-1889)
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Two fishermen in a punt. Sumi and light colour on paper. 19 x 30 cms; 7.5 x 11.9 inches.
Good condition. Unsigned but from a fully signed album.
Status: Sold
Suzuki KIITSU (1796-1858)
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A fan painting showing a children’s toy. A rotating lantern with moving images. Kiitsu was a pupil of Hoitsu. Sumi and colour on lacquered paper.
Good condition for a used fan. Signed Kiitsu ga.
Status: Sold
Hashiguchi GOYO (1880-1921)
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An original drawing of a sleeping cat. The original hanshita-e for a published print from Ten Sketches, volume two, published 1918-20. Illustrated in Hashiguchi Goyo, 130 Years Birth. Memorial Exhibition catalogue, Chiba City Museum, Iwakiri Shinichiro, Tokyo Shinibun, 2011. On thin Japanese paper, 11 x 15.5 in; 28 x 39.4 cms. Several expertly repaired tears, otherwise very good condition.
Status: Sold
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
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An original sumi drawing of a seated bijin writing on a handscroll. From a series of such studies showing women in various attitudes, smoking; playing musical instruments; adjusting hair, etc. The design cut out and mounted onto a larger sheet of Japanese paper, 10.5 x 8 inches.
Status: Sold
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An important original drawing by Hiroshige being an hanshita-e (preparatory sketch) for an unpublished series Toto meisho gojusan tsugi, “Fifty-Three Views of Edo.” Shows Nihonbashi with a daimyo’s cortege crossing. Warehouses in the background and a distant Fuji.
Probably executed c. early 1850s. Sumi on thin paper, 9.5 x 13.5 in; 24 x 34 cms. Extensive pentimenti. Sold “as is” with imperfections but in good condition. Provenance: Ex Huguette Beres collection, sold Sothebys, Paris, 27/11/2002, lot 177.
Status: Sold
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An important original drawing by Hiroshige being an hanshita-e (preparatory sketch) for an unpublished series Toto Fujimi junigatsu, “Mount Fuji Viewed from Edo in the Twelve Months.” This is February showing the Inari Bridge and the Minato Temple; boats in the foreground and Fuji in the distance.
Probably drawn c. early 1850s. Sumi on thin paper. Sold “as is” with imperfections but in good condition. Provenance: Ex Huguette Beres collection, sold Sothebys, Paris, 27/11/2002, lot 179.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMASU (FL. c. 1696-1720)
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An overlarge oban, 19.5 x 12.25 in; 49.5 x 31 cms. Coloured by hand with tan and mustard yellow. Shows the emporium of Daikokuten, the God of wealth and one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin). He is shown at the top seated in front of a pair of scales. Seated before him, to the left, is Benzaiten, the Goddess of love and music. On the right is Ebisu, God of fishermen and good luck. Behind him is Fukurokuju, the God of happiness and wealth, using an abacus. On the far right is Jurojin, the God of longevity. Below him, next to the cart, is Bishamonten, the God of war and warriors. At the bottom, stepping from the boat, is Hotei, the God of happiness. All the Gods are helping, together with rats, to unload bales of rice. The earliest depictions of the Seven Gods are in the second half of the 17th century and are amalgams of Indian and Chinese lore. This early rendition still hasn’t the fully developed characteristics of the Gods – especially Hotei – which we see in the 19th century. Published by Komatsuya (who published c. 1707-1734) c. 1710-1715. Little is known of Kiyomasu’s early career. He may have been the brother of Kiyonobu. An important painter and print artist. Of the utmost rarity: probably the only impression extant.
Very good impression. Some expert edge restoration, otherwise very good colour and condition. Signed Torii shi with Kiyomasu seal.
Status: Sold
Attributed to Nishikawa SUKENOBU (1671-1750)
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A sumizuri-e print, probably from a set of 12 issued in album form, showing two courtesans, one holding a love letter which she is either delivering or collecting. Its difficult to intuit what is happening. Sukenobu was unusual in spending his working life in Kyoto.
Very good impression. Centre fold (as usual) and small wormage on left and right border.
Status: Sold
Utagawa HIROSHIGE II (1826-1869)
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An original drawing, sumi on paper, 9 x 12 in; 23 x 30.5 cms. Neko ni kamibukuro, “cat in a paper bag.” A proverb: “to back away from something.”
Slight foxing, otherwise good condition. Sealed Ichiryusai.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNITSUNA (1805-1868)
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A preliminary brush drawing for a print laid onto Japanese paper showing a full length portrait of the sumo wrestler Fujibi Mitsuemon. Originally a drawing of another wrestler was made and altered with pentimenti to show Mitsuemon. 13.25 x 9.5 in; 33.6 x 24.2 cms.
Signed Kunitsuna ga. He was a pupil of Toyokuni. Purchased from me in 1975. Sold “as is” with all imperfections.
Status: Sold
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
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A small original drawing, 3.25 x 4.25 in; 0.825 x 1.05 cms. Sumi on paper laid onto card showing a vendor or waiter offering food. Very much in the style of the “Day” and “Night” series of drawings in the MFA, Boston, c 1815. Provenance: Ex collection Catherine Gide, the daughter of Andre Gide and Elizabeth van Rysselberghe who was the daughter of Theo van Rysselberghe, the Belgian painter and friend of the French Impressionists. Sold “as is.”
Status: Sold
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An original oban (14 x 9.5 in; 35.5 x 24 cms) hanshita-e drawing, sumi on thin paper, for an unpublished set Rokkasen kiri etoki, “Picture Storytelling of Climatic Scenes of the Six Immortal Poets.” In this case the poet Fun’ya no Yasuhide and depicts his most famous poem, no. 22 in the Hyakunin Isshu, which describes the autumn gales bending the trees and grasses. Shows the poet caught in a gale. In fact this is the same subject as a published design in a chu-tanzaku set by Hiroshige published by Shogendo in c 1835-39 (see MFA, Boston, acc. no. 21.7035): Possibly the publisher changed his mind about the format to use. Signed Hiroshige ga. Sold “as is” but in good condition.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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An original oban (10.5 x 15 in; 26.75 x 38 cms) preparatory drawing, sumi on thin paper, for an unpublished set. Shows a warrior and attendants, one of whom is being handed a parcel of scrolls (Gohonzon ?) by a priest in a nearby hut. Possibly intended for a set based on incidents in the life of Nichiren. Ex Julius Kurth collection (1870-1949. A German priest and scholar who published many books and papers on Japanese prints and Egyptian and Near Eastern art.) Sold “as is” but in generally good condition.
Status: Sold
Hashiguchi GOYO (1880-1921)
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An original pencil drawing on thick paper, 13.5 x 13.75 in; 34.25 x 35 cms, of a nude. Quite probably either Kodaira Tomi or Nakatani Tsuru. Both were his muse and had similar features. On the reverse is another drawing of a nude with the face unfinished. Two small red seals bottom left. One reading Honjo, the other unread. A small amount of foxing on reverse, otherwise in good condition.
Status: Sold
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Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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An original preparatory drawing (hanshita-e) for an unpublished set. Shows a busy street scene with a doctor’s surgery on the right. Probably c early 1870s. Signed on a painter’s palette Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi fude. Two small areas of pentimenti. Sumi on thin Japanese paper, image size 13.5 x 9.25 in; 34.5 x 23.5 cms. In good condition.
Status: Sold
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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An original drawing in vigorous sumi and red ink showing fighting samurai. Possibly a preparatory sketch for an illustrated book. Lightly laid at edges onto Japanese paper, otherwise good condition. 6.5 x 10.75 in; 16.5 x 27.3 cms.
Status: Sold
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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An original drawing in vigorous red ink showing fighting samurai. Possibly a preparatory sketch for an illustrated book. Lightly laid at edges onto Japanese paper, otherwise good condition. 7 x 10.5 in; 17.8 x 26.6 cms.
Status: Sold
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
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An important large brush drawing in red ink showing a full length figure wielding a stave at a cowering adversary. The standing figure has no sword or armour but is obviously a chivalrous man of great probity. The leaning attitude of the upright figure is typical of Hokusai (for example, see Theodore Bowie, Indiana University Press, 1974, The Drawings of Hokusai, no. 108) and gives movement to what otherwise would be a static pose. Red ink was frequently used by Hokusai, not just on the obvious Shoki paintings (see nos. 160-161, pages 254-5, Timothy Clark, Hokusai Beyond The Great Wave, B.M., 2017) but as underdrawing on figures and landscapes (see nos. 178-182, pages 279-283, Timothy Clark, Hokusai Beyond The Great Wave, B.M., 2017). Red ink and wash on thin Japanese paper laid onto european paper, image area 16.5 x 15.5 in; 41.5 x 39.5 cms. An area not pertinent to the design missing top right but otherwise in good condition. Provenance: Ex collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller (inventory number 23.040).
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNITERU (Fl. mid-19th c.)
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An original hanshita-e (preparatory drawing) for a triptych showing the ground floor interior of a brothel in the Yoshiwara with courtesans and their assistants. These first drafts by the artist themselves survive because a more detailed drawing was needed by the blockcutter, and this was normally given to an assistant to execute. Or the drawing was never taken up by the publisher, for whatever reason. He was a pupil of Kunisada, originally calling himself Sadashige, and becoming Kuniteru when Kunisada became Toyokuni III. Sumi and touches of red. Extensive pentimenti. Sold “as is” with all imperfections. Signed on two sheets Kuniteru ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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An original sumi drawing showing the two gods of good luck, Ebisu and Daikoku, fishing from a boat. A variety of sea creatures can be seen in the water. Ebisu’s fishing line has caught an octopus which has landed on Daikoku’s head. 12 x 9.25 in; 30.5 x 23.5 cms. Laid onto Japanese paper. Sold “as is” with imperfections.
Status: Sold
Natori SHUNSEN (1886-1960)
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An original watercolour on cartridge paper of the actor Onoe Kikugoro VI as Tomomori. Shunsen is famous for his print series of actors published by Watanabe from 1916 until 1954. 39.2 x 28.5 cms; 15.5 x 11.25 inches. Signed and sealed Shunsen. Minor foxing, otherwise good condition.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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A fine original shunga drawing showing a couple copulating. Probably a preliminary design for an obon illustrated book. Sumi on thin Japanese paper, 7.5 x 10.5 in, 19 x 26.5 cms. A nice example unlike the many poor unattributed examples available.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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An original Kunisada shunga drawing showing a couple having sexual congress. Most likely a preliminary design for a koban print. Sumi on thin Japanese paper lightly attached at edges to an album leaf, 5.25 x 7.25 in, 13.5 x 18.5 cms. Probably intended to be printed four-to-a-sheet. A very good quality drawing, unlike the many poor unattributed examples available.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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An original Kunisada shunga drawing showing an old man ravishing a young woman. Most likely a preliminary design for a koban print. Sumi on thin Japanese paper lightly attached at edges to an album leaf, 5.25 x 7.25 in, 13.5 x 18.5 cms. Probably intended to be printed four-to-a-sheet. A very good quality drawing, unlike the many poor unattributed examples available.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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An original Kunisada shunga drawing showing an old man ravishing a young woman. Most likely a preliminary design for a koban print. Sumi on thin Japanese paper lightly attached at edges to an album leaf, 5.25 x 7.25 in, 13.5 x 18.5 cms. Probably intended to be printed four-to-a-sheet A very good quality drawing, unlike the many poor unattributed examples available.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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An original Kunisada shunga drawing showing an old man ravishing a young woman. Most likely a preliminary design for a koban print. Sumi on thin Japanese paper lightly attached at edges to an album leaf, 5.25 x 7.25 in, 13.5 x 18.5 cms. Probably intended to be printed four-to-a-sheet. A very good quality drawing, unlike the many poor unattributed examples available.
Status: Sold
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
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A sheet of original studies, sumi on thin paper, 10.5 x 15 in; 26.6 x 38 cms. Of particular interest and importance is the self-portrait in the upper right, This is another version of the famous self-portrait at the age of 83 (1842) sent to his publisher. Illustrated in Hokusai Drawings, J. Hiller, Phaidon, 1966, ill. No. 110 from the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden, Netherlands. Provenance: Ex Henri Vever collection, seal bottom right.
One small wormhole, otherwise in very good condition.
Status: Sold
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