Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size.
Two swallows diving above a stream from a set Sanju-roku tori zukushi, “A Series of Thirty-six Birds and Animals”. The title in the shape of a rolled makimono top right. A takaramono printed in gold on blue with good luck symbols runs along the top. Produced for the Shipporen Poetry Club c1830. Poems by Fukubunro Arimasu and Kozanro Okikaze. Of the utmost rarity: Surimono, when encountered from this series, are invariably reprints or copies. Only known as a Meiji Akashi reprint. Others from the set are illustrated in: Vever I, 1974, lot 339; Gale Catalogued, Hillier 1970, no 253; Le Veel sale ( 3rd Part ) 1981, lot 165.
Fine impression and colour with sprayed blue pigment to simulate water drops. Very small repaired wormhole at bottom, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Sold
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A deer with her fawn from a set Sanju-roku tori zukushi, “A Series of Thirty-six Birds and Animals”. The title in the shape of a rolled makimono top right. A takaramono printed in gold on blue with good luck symbols runs along the top. Produced for the Shipporen Poetry Club c1830. Poems by Fukukitei Karakusa and Eigado Soya. Of the utmost rarity: Surimono, when encountered from this series, are invariably reprints or copies. The only impression I have catalogued of this design. Others from the set are illustrated in: Vever I, 1974, lot 339; Gale Catalogued, Hillier 1970, no 253; Le Veel sale ( 3rd Part ) 1981, lot 165.
Fine impression and colour. Light pink ground. Minimal marks, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Sold
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size.
An excessively rare surimono, no.3 from a set Fuzoku onna Suikoden, “The Suikoden in the Customs of Women”. Shows a girl sitting on the shore, pipe in hand and her tobacco pouch on the side of a basket. Published for the Taikogawa poetry club, c1829. Ex Vever collection. Impressions from this set are nearly always copies.
Very fine impression with extensive silver and gold. Granules of gold ( actually brass ) scattered over the beach to simulate sand. Fine colour and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A rare surimono with title: Enoshima kiko, Ryudo, “Record of a Journey to Enoshima”. A set of sixteen prints for the Manji-ren Club ( their swastika seal top right above title cartouche ). Each surimono has an association with Enoshima, as here, where the year of issue is 1833, a Snake Year, the reptile being the messenger of Benten whose shrine is situated at Enoshima. The scene shows a picnic party enjoying the view, while a couple explore the Dragon’s Cave on the right. In the distance the snows of Mount Fuji stand out in silver. Two other impressions illustrated in One Hundred Surimono in the Collection of Sidney C. Ward, no.28, p.35 and the second Le Veel sale. 1980, lot 149.
Very fine impression, colour and condition with silver, gold and gauffrage. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Sold
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A rare surimono showing a tea-house on an inlet. A couple are being entertained by a waitress in an open room while another goes to collect fish from a man holding a fish-scoop. The shop sign indicates a magnificent view of Kanto ( the provinces situated east of the Hakone Barrier Station ).
Very fine impression, colour and condition. Extensive details in gold and silver. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Available
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size.
Shows a Shinto priest carrying a firebrand and running to avoid a large wave. In his left hand he carries me, an edible seaweed which he has gathered. This ritual was carried out at night on New Year’s Eve at the Hayatomo Myojin Shrine, in northern Kyushu. The shrine is seen, top right, beneath a black sky. Other examples of this rare surimono are illustrated in: Vever sale, Part 1, Sothebys, 1974, lot 336, p.315; Jewels of Japanese Printmaking: Surimono of the Bunka-Bunsei era 1804-1830, Joan B. Mirviss, 2000, no.48, p.97 ( colour ); One Hundred Surimono in the Collection of Sidney C. Ward, no.26, p.32; Surimono, Steff Schmidt and Setsuko Kuwabara, 1990, no.38, p.92. One of the finest surimono designs. Published c early 1830s.
Fine impression. The red of the firebrand turned, otherwise very good colour. Extensive flecked foam printed silver and the gold of the poems, against the black sky, intact. Very good condition. Signed Oju Hokkei hitsu.
Status: Sold
Ueda KOCHO (active c1800-1830s)
Click here to view image full size.
A large Shijo surimono showing a party on a boating trip. ( One of the most underrated areas of ukiyo-e.) Rare.
Fine impression. The usual fold marks, otherwise good condition. Signed Kocho.
Status: Sold
Totoya HOKKEI (1780 – 1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A surimono showing a courtesan with attendant holding a kite with an image of Danjuro in a shibaraku role. Title: Haru no machi, “The Series of Spring Town”. Issued by the Fundarikaren Club. Their emblem is repeated on the cloth sack the attendant carries on his back. Rare: This is the only genuine impression I have catalogued.
Fine impression and colour with gold and silver. Slight fading, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Available
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760 – 1849)
Click here to view image full size.
An exceptionally rare and very unusual koban surimono showing two onnagata actors. The only other recorded impression seems to be in Hokusai, Gian Carlo Calza, Electa, 1999, plate III.57. That has the months on the title slip of book for 1803 (and a poem top left). So this is an egoyomi and my impression must be either a proof or the first issue (same as Harunobu prints issued first without date, then with).
Very fine impression and colour. Signed Gakyojin Hokusai ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786 – 1864)
Click here to view image full size.
An extremely rare surimono showing a seated beauty.
Fine impression and colour. The background blind-printed with a textured pattern. Signed Gototei Kunisada ga.
Status: Available
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A young beauty holding a fallen kite from a series: Yanagi bantsuzuki “A Series of Willows”, sub-title: Yanagi yu “The Public Bath Willow”.
Fine impression and colour. Slight signs of mounting au verso, otherwise good condition. Signed Go Hokkei.
Status: Sold
Aoigaoka HOKKEI (1780 – 1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A surimono from the set: Hanazono bamtsuzuki, “A Set for the Hanazono Group”. A series of at least seventeen prints published c1820s. Each image gives a positive injunction to start something on an auspicious day; as here: Ibori yoshi “A Good Day to Dig a Well”.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Available
HOKKEI (1780 – 1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A surimono from the set: Hanazono bamtsuzuki, “A Set for the Hanazono Group”. A series of at least seventeen prints published c1820s. Each image gives a positive injunction to start something on an auspicious day; as here: Nyugaku yoshi “A Good Day to Start Studying”.
Fine impression. Slight turning of colour on border, otherwise very good colour and condition. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Available
Aoigaoka HOKKEI (1780 – 1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A surimono from the set: Hanazono bamtsuzuki, “A Set for the Hanazono Group”. A series of at least seventeen prints published c1820s. Each image gives a positive injunction to start something on an auspicious day; as here: Yudono hajine yoshi “A Good Day to Start Having a Bath”.
Fine impression. Slight turning of colour on border, otherwise very good colour and condition. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Available
Aoigaoka HOKKEI (1780 – 1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A surimono from the set: Hanazono bamtsuzuki, “A Set for the Hanazono Group”. A series of at least seventeen prints published c1820s. Each image gives a positive injunction to start something on an auspicious day; as here: Kadoide yoshi “A Good Day to Start a Journey”.
Fine impression. Slight turning of colour on border, otherwise very good colour and condition. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Available
Aoigaoka HOKKEI (1780 – 1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A surimono from the set: Hanazono bamtsuzuki, “A Set for the Hanazono Group”. A series of at least seventeen prints published c1820s. Each image gives a positive injunction to start something on an auspicious day; as here: Sake zukuri yoshi “A Good Day to Make Sake”.
Fine impression. Slight turning of colour on border, otherwise very good colour and condition. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Available
Anonymous (1821)
Click here to view image full size.
A still life from a set of six prints for the Iwagaki Club: Iwagaki-ren rokuhira no uchi. Shows a tobacco pouch, telescope and snake netsuke (for snake year 1821). There appear to be at least three states of this lovely surimono.
Fine impression and colour with gold and silver on the pouch. Minor rubbing, otherwise very good condition.
Status: Available
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A dragon emerging from dark clouds. An extremely rare surimono; the few other known examples being trimmed.
Fine impression, very good colour and condition. Signed Hokkei.
Status: Sold
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size.
A langoustine and fish. An extremely rare surimono designed for the Gogawa Club (seal top right) and produced by Shunman sei.
Very good impression, colour and condition with blind-printing on fish. Signed Hokkei sha.
Status: Sold