Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
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A poem by Sanji Takamura from Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, the “Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse.” Published by Eijudo and Iseri, c.1835-6. Although obviously intended to be a set of 100 prints, only 27 are known plus drawings for others. The poem is a farewell on his exile to the Eighty Islands ( the Oki Islands, far out to sea, north of Honshu ). Hokusai shows his boat at the top of the design between the small islands. He instead concentrates on ama diving for awabi. These colourful girls were regarded as highly erotic as they dived bare-breasted. One of Hokusai’s most beautiful prints and, together with Minamoto no Muneyuki Ason, the best design in the set. Rare. Ex Le Veel collection , sold Paris 24/10/1980, lot 82. This impression exhibited and illustrated 10/1980 – 1/1981, Paris, Centre Culturel du Marais, Hokusai et son temps, p. 211, pl. 246.
Exceptionally early impression with beautiful gradation. Fine colour. Full size. ( The signature is often trimmed off because it is near right edge. ) Very slight centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Zen Hokusai manji.
Status: Available
Kawamata TSUNEMASA (Fl. 1716-48)
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Shows a beautiful salt-water gatherer, her hut behind her on the seashore. A member of the Kawamata school, he probably worked in Kyoto and specialised in bijinga.
Sumi and full colour on paper. Outlines picked out in gold. 32.5 x 10.5 in; 82.5 x 26.5 cms. Fine old brocade mount. Old box. Signed and sealed Tsunemasa.
Status: Available
Watanabe SEITEI (1851-1918)
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Two geese – possibly Greater White-fronted Geese ( although the legs should be a little more orange ) with tall reeds and a large misty moon. Sumi and light colour on silk, 43 x 16 in; 109 x 40.5 cms. Signed and sealed Seitei. In fine condition with original box signed and sealed by Seitei.
Status: Available
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
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3 vols. complete Ehon warai jogo, “The Laughing Drinker.” Published c.1803. This – probably Utamaro’s last erotic book – was issued in colour and, as here, in monochrome. According to Hayashi the two were published simultaneously, but with the black and white edition from separate blocks and an additional black block for the hair. Later recut editions are known.
Fine impressions. Minimal soil. Slight margin wormage at end of first volume and a little wormage at beginning of last volume. Nice original hand painted covers and original title slips. In chitsu case. A very nice copy of this well known book.
Status: Available
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Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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A hand painted fan showing an Onna Daruma, a female Bodhidharma. Legend has it that Daruma reached Japan by crossing the sea on a stalk of millet and many prints depict this event but often substituting a courtesan for Daruma. Otherwise he is shown, bearded, with beetle brows and huge earrings. During the Edo period the word daruma was a slang expression for a prostitute and a darumaya was a brothel, hence the number of prints showing Daruma with courtesans. The fan has survived by being mounted onto Japanese paper. Sumi and red on a mica surface, 5.5 x 18.25 in; 14 x 46 cms. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga with kiri seal. Sold “as is” with all defects of a used fan. A rare item.
Status: Available
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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Arguably Yoshitoshi’s masterpiece in the triptych format. Shows Mongaku ( Endo Morito, c.1120-1200 ) subjecting himself to three years penance as a Buddhist monk beneath the waterfall of Mount Nachi in Kii Province. Morito inflicted this punishment on himself because he had inadvertently cut off the head of Kesa Gozen, the wife of the palace guard Watanabe Wataru, with whom he was in love. Published 1859 ( centre sheet ) and 1860 ( outside panels ) by Kadokin. Extremely rare: Another impression in the Baur collection, Geneve, Switzerland.
Fine impression, very good colour. Minor marks and small expertly restored wormage. Slight trimming. Extensive splashed gofun. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.
Status: Available
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
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Mishima, Province of Settsu ( or Toi ) from a set of Six Crystal ( Tama ) Rivers, Furyu mu tamagawa. The streams were noted for the purity of their water and the three girls are shown fulling cloth ( hence Toi which is the alternative name of the river and the word for beating cloth ). Published by Izumiya Ichibei, c.1803-4. This appears to be from a set – like others of Utamaro’s – that could be viewed separately or as a continuous composition. See Yoshida, Utamaro zenshu, p. 173 for another design from the set. Rare.
Fine impression and colour. Full size. One minor mark, otherwise very good condition. Signed Utamaro fude.
Status: Available
Utagawa TOYOKUNI (1769-1825)
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Shows Tamagiku of the House of Tama from the extremely rare set of seven prints Bijin nanakomachi, “Beauties of the Seven Komachi” from Toyokuni’s best period ( c.1793-7 ). A parody of the Noh play Sekidera Komachi showing the courtesan writing a letter to her client. To her left is Komachi’s poem about aging. Ono no Komachi, the beautiful ninth century poetess, was inspiration for many prints. Ex Matsuki collection.
Fine impression and colour with extensive embossing. Yellow ground. Full size. Fine condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Available
NAGASAKI SCHOOL
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A fine dai oban ( 17.25 x 12.5 in ) print showing a Russian ship in Nagasaki harbour. The Dutch title: Vreemde Groote Schip, “A Large Foreign Ship” top right. An envoy is being rowed ashore in a dinghy accompanied by musicians. The first Russian envoy to Japan, Rezanov, visited in the Nadezhda in 1804. He was imprisoned for several months and asked not to return. Interestingly, two blocks were used to make this print and the join shows on all impressions running up the centre of the boat. One of the best Nagasaki prints and rare.
Very good impression. Fine colour and exceptional condition for such a print.
Status: Available
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
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A poem by Bunya no Asayasu from Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, the “Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse.” Published by Eijudo and Iseri, c.1835-6. Although obviously intended to be a set of 100 prints, only 27 are known plus drawings for others. The poem likens dewdrops to jewels spread across fields. Hokusai’s design shows five temple boys gathering lotus leaves. Scattered across the leaves are white drops of dew or water. A beautiful design. Ex collections Hayashi ( seal bottom left ) and Le Veel, sold Paris 5/11/1981, lot 85.
Fine impression and colour. Two small expertly restored wormholes near top edge, otherwise very good condition. Signed Zen Hokusai manji.
Status: Available
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
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A poem by Motoyoshi Shinno from Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, the “Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse.” Published by Eijudo and Iseri, c.1835-6. Although obviously intended to be a set of 100 prints, only 27 are known plus drawings for others. The poem concerns the intention of a lover to meet his love no matter what. There are numerous puns and double meanings in the poem. Hokusai shows the shore of Naniwa Bay with a reluctant ox being dragged along.
Very good impression. Slight turning of the green and minimal soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Zen Hokusai manji.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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Buyo kanazawa hassho yakei, “A Night View of Kanazawa.” This area, about 10 km south of Yokohama, was renowned for its Eight Famous Views. Although without any series title, this is from a trinity of designs depicting Snow, Moon ( as here ) and Flowers. These were the last three great prints Hiroshige designed. All are rare – especially this design. Published 1857 by Okasawaya Taheiji.
Fine impression and colour. Trimmed slightly at sides, and especially at base. Slight signs of where sheets attached au verso, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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Otsu hashirii chamise, “The Running Well Teahouse at Otsu” from the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. The set published by Hoeido and Senkakudo, c.1833-4. Shows the teahouse with the eponymous well at far left. So-called because of the water that gushed from it. Rice cakes in Otsu borrowed the name and were called Shirii rice cakes. This is the extremely rare first state of the first edition with the mountain in the background ( missing on all later editions ) and gradation on the tea house roofs. Ukiyoe Taikei, vol. 14, no. 54 shows the first edition, but second state without gradation. Other first editions were in the Happer sale, Sothebys, 26/4/1909, lot 141 and Metzger auction, AA Galleries, NY, 13/11/1916, lot 157.
Fine impression with crisp seals and the mountain beautifully graded in grey ( some impressions being in blue ). Probably no other set went into so many reprints and there are a plethora of coarse impressions extant – proof of how popular the designs were with the public. Indeed, it is stated that the first two hundred sets sold out in a matter of hours. Fine colour. Small rubbed area bottom right and trimmed close, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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Miya, atsuta shinji, “Miya, Shinto Ceremonies at Atsuta Shrine” from the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. The set published by Hoeido and Senkakudo, c.1833-4. Shows the annual festival on the 21st day of the sixth month. Two groups of men drive two horses with long ropes. On the right is the torii of the famous Atsuta Shrine, the second oldest in Japan and renowned for housing an imperial sword. This is the extremely rare first edition.
Very fine impression with strong woodgrain. This is one of the most difficult designs to find in early state. In even the earliest printings, as here, the seal beneath the signature shows damage, and on later printings the seal disintegrates even more. Fine colour. Two expertly repaired wormholes upper left and right edge, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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A snow scene: Fukagawa kiba, “Lumberyard, Fukagawa” from Edo meisho hyakkei, “The Hundred Famous Views of Edo.” Published by Uoya Eikichi between Ansei 3 and 5 ( 1856 – 58 ). This design dated Dragon 8 ( 1856 ). Wood was in strong demand in Edo as there were many fires, indeed, they were called the “flowers of Edo.”
Very good early impression. Fine colour. Lightly backed, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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Kamata no umezono, “Plum Garden at Kamata” from Edo meisho hyakkei, “The Hundred Famous Views of Edo.” Published by Uoya Eikichi between Ansei 3 and 5 ( 1856 – 58 ). This design dated Snake 2 ( 1857 ). A sedan chair is seen to the right in which visitors were carried to the gardens.
Very good early impression. Very good colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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A snow scene: Atago shita yabukoji, “Bamboo Lane Below Atago Hill” from Edo meisho hyakkei, “The Hundred Famous Views of Edo.” Published by Uoya Eikichi between Ansei 3 and 5 ( 1856 – 58 ). This design dated Dragon 12 ( 1856 ). The large building on the left housed the daimyo’s servants and retainers.
Fine early impression. Fine colour and condition with mica on roof to right and at base of print. The only discernable difference between this impression and the first state ( apart from the cartouche ) is an extremely subtle gradation on the roofs to left and right. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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Bikunibashi setchu, “Bikuni [ Nun’s ] Bridge in Snow” from Edo meisho hyakkei, “The Hundred Famous Views of Edo.” Published by Uoya Eikichi between Ansei 3 and 5 ( 1856 – 58 ). This design dated Horse 10 ( 1858 ). This area was popular for food stalls and the one on the right advertises baked sweet potato, and the one on the left wild boar.
Very good impression, colour and condition. This design is regarded, by some, as being by Hiroshige II. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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A snow scene: Meguro taikobashi yuhi no oka, “Drum Bridge and Sunset Hill, Meguro” from Edo meisho hyakkei, “The Hundred Famous Views of Edo.” Published by Uoya Eikichi between Ansei 3 and 5 ( 1856 – 58 ). This design dated Snake 4 ( 1857 ).
Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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Satta Fuji, “Mount Fuji from Satta.” From the early set of fifteen prints Honcho meisho, “Famous Views of our Country” published by Fujiokaya Hikotaro, c.1837. ( In fact three designs were commissioned in 1832 but the set suspended, only to be resurrected after the success of the first Tokaido series. ) The steep Satta Pass gave a wonderful view of Fuji. Interestingly, the best design from the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, Suruga satta kaijo ( “The Wave” ) gives another view of how wild the sea could be here. Rare.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An untitled kakemono generally referred to as the Snow Gorge. Shows the Fuji River flowing between steep, snowy cliffs. The river eventually flows into Suruga Bay. It is known that Hiroshige visited this region in 4/1842 and he probably crossed the Fuji River. Published by Sanoya Kihei, c.1834-4. Rare.
Very good impression and colour. Two unidentified ( Japanese ? ) collectors’ seals on reverse which slightly show through to front. Ample space for joining. Signed Hiroshige hitsu.
Status: Available
Tosendo RIFU (Active c. 1730)
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Rifu was a member of the Kaigetsudo school, although little is known of his life. This beautiful painting shows a young woman in a voluminous robe cooling off in the summer. Full colour on paper with elements picked out in gold such as the comb, fan and robe. Lacquered hair. Image size 46 x 18.75in; 117 x 47.5 cms. Two other Rifu paintings are in the Idemitsu collection, see Ukiyo-e Paintings in the Idemitsu Collection, 1988, no 50 and 51. In very good condition for a painting of this period on paper. Mount in excellent condition. New box and presented with a futo-maki ( thick wooden roll to preserve the painting from damage ). Fully signed Yamato e-shi Tosendo Rifu zu. Yamato meaning the pride of being a Japanese painter as opposed to one imitating Chinese painting.
Status: Available
Katsukawa SHUNEI (1762-1819)
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Iwai Hanshiro IV in a shibaraku role, probably as Akita Jonosuke Yoshikage from the play Mieiko nori no hachi no ki performed at the Kawarazaki Theatre in the 11th month, 1791. Published by Harimaya Shinshichi. Ex Beres collection, sold Paris 2002, lot 39.
Fine impression; very good colour. Slight edge thinning and very small nick out of top margin, otherwise very good condition. Signed Shunei ga.
Status: Available
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An original preparatory drawing for an unpublished set: Toto Fujimi junigatsu, “Mount Fuji Viewed from the Eastern Capital Through the Twelve Months”, this being Mutsuki. Sumi on paper, c. 1850-55, 9.5 x 13.75 in; 24.5 x 35 cms. Shows a full ferry crossing the Sumida. Slight soil and centrefold, but generally very good condition. Ex collection Beres, sold Paris 2002, lot 182.
Status: Available
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
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An early Eizan published c. 1810s by Shimizu. Seiro Niwaka zensei ki, “Popular Entertainment at the Niwaka Festival.” Aizuga yanagi koshizuki, with a list of entertainers. This event during the 8th month of every year in the Edo Yoshiwara involved dancing and music and girls dressed – as here, lower right figure – as men.
Superb impression and colour’ Slight browning of the thick hosho and small nick out of top left edge, otherwise very good condition. Full size. Signed Eizan hitsu.
Status: Available