status: available

Kinoshita HIRONOBU I (Active c1851-1870)

A large head oban print of the actor Onoe Shogyoku in an unknown role  from a rare set: Zen (?) kurabe nishiki utsushie, “A Comparison of Virtuous Pictures.” Published c1859. This is the first deluxe edition with extensive burnishing, gold and silver. The set was reissued without these embellishments.

Very fine impression and colour. Some soil, offsetting and slight trimming. Signed Hironobu ga.

status: available

Ichiyosai YOSHITAKI (1841-1899. Active c1854-1885)

A large head oban print of the actor Nakamura Kanjaku II as Takeda Katsuyori (?) from a rare set: Zen (?) kurabe nishiki utsushie, “A Comparison of Virtuous Pictures.” Published c1859. This is the first deluxe edition with extensive burnishing, gold and silver. The set was reissued without these embellishments.

Very fine impression and colour. Some soil, offsetting and slight trimming. Signed Yoshitaki hitsu.

status: available

Kinoshita HIRONOBU I (Active c1851-1870)

A large head oban print of the actor Otani Tomomatsu I as Yaegaki hime from a rare set: Zen (?) kurabe nishiki utsushie, “A Comparison of Virtuous Pictures.” Published c1859. This is the first deluxe edition with extensive burnishing, gold and silver. The set was reissued without these embellishments.

Very fine impression and colour. Some soil, offsetting and slight trimming. Signed Hironobu ga.

status: available

Kinoshita HIRONOBU I (Active c1851-1870)

A large head oban print of the actor Arashi Tokusaburo II ( or III [?] ) as Hangari on’na from a rare set: Zen (?) kurabe nishiki utsushie, “A Comparison of Virtuous Pictures.” Published c1859. This is the first deluxe edition with extensive burnishing, gold and silver. The set was reissued without these embellishments.

Very fine impression and colour. Some soil, offsetting and slight trimming. Signed Hironobu ga.

status: sold

Ichiyosai YOSHITAKI (1841-1899. Active c1854-1885)

A large head oban print of the actor Sancho Daisho (?) as the pirate Watonai ( Kokusenya, Coxinga ) from a rare set: Zen (?) kurabe nishiki utsushie, “A Comparison of Virtuous Pictures.” Published c1859. This is the first deluxe edition with extensive burnishing, gold and silver. The set was reissued without these embellishments.

Very fine impression and colour. Some soil, offsetting and slight trimming. Signed Yoshitaki hitsu.

status: sold

Hasegawa SADANOBU I (1809 – 1879; active 1834 – 1879)

A reclining beauty reading a book. There appears to be nothing else like this by Sadanobu, and indeed, there are very few bijin-ga prints by him. A beautiful painting.

Sumi and colour on silk. Image size 13 x 9.25 inches; 33 x 24 cms. Slight loss of gofun and minor marks. Mounted onto board. Signed Ho Utamaro Sadanobu, “Copied [ or imitating ] Utamaro, Sadanobu” with Sadanobu seal.

status: available

Shunkosai HOKUSHU (Active 1809 – 1832)

Bando Mitsugoro III as Daihanji Kiyozumi and Arashi Koroku IV as the son Koganosuke in the play Imoseyama Onna Teikin. In fact a diptych ( see Keyes, The Theatrical World of Osaka Prints, no. 16, p. 72-73 ). The child Koganosoke resolves on a suicide pact with Hinadori ( shown on the other sheet ) after Soga no Iruka orders the children to be sent to his court to insure the family’s loyalty. Published 1821 by Wataki. ( There are two states known: With and without publisher’s seal. Some embellishments are added and some removed on the two states. )

Fine impression. Particularly well preserved colour. De-luxe impression. Gum and polishing on Koganosuke’s hair; blind printing on the blossom above. Some loss of brass. Signed Shunkosai Hokushu ga.

status: available

Shunkosai HOKUEI (Active 1824 – 1837)

Iwai Shijaku I as Kowagi Atsumori and Nakamura Utaemon III as Kumagai Jiro Naozane in Gempei Tsutsuji, performed 2/1832 at the Kado Theatre. Published by Honya Seishichi. This is the second state of three: The first edition also has carver’s seal and various de-luxe embellishments. The third state lacks seals and has the actors’ names in blue top left ( one changed ) for a performance the following year 3/1833. 

Fine impression and colour. One flattened crease, otherwise very good condition. Signed Shunkosai Hokuei ga.

status: sold

Ryusai  SHEGEHARU (1803-1853)

A surimono diptych of actors. Shigeharu, according to contemporary accounts, was the only professional full-time actor/print designer. True shikishi-ban Osaka surimono are extremely rare: Anecdotally there are supposed to be some others in the vaults of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Fine impression with burnishing, silver and gold. Fine colour. Light backing with slight offsetting au verso, otherwise good condition. Signed Ryusai Shigeharu.

status: available

Shunkosai HOKUSHU (active 1810-1832)

Yellow-ground bust portrait of Nakamura Utaemon III ( Inanoya Hanbei ). Published 3/1820. Rare: Another chirimen ( creped ) version is illustrated in Kamigata Prints in the former period: part 1, Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University, no. 129, p. 33

Very good impression and colour. Slight creases and soil. Signed Shunkosai Hokushu ga. 

status: sold

Yamaguchi SHIGEHARU (1803-1853)

The complete oban diptych showing ( right ) a bust portrait of Onoe Kikugoro III as Shizuka no Mae and ( left ) a bust portrait of Nakamura Utaemon III as Kitsune Tadanobu in the play Yoshitsune senbon zakura, “The Thousand Cherries of Yoshitsune” performed 10/1830. Illustrated complete in colour in Dean Schwaab, Osaka Prints, 1989, no.141, p.150 and also on back jacket.

Fine impression, colour and condition. Full size. Signed Gyokuryutei Shigeharu ga. 

status: available

Ittosai MASANOBU (active c1849-1853)

The actor Kataoka Gado II as Honchomaru Tsunagoro in the play Honcho itoya no musume performed at the Chikugo theatre in 8/1849. From the set: Date kurabe kyokaku den, “A Comparison of the Stylishness of Famous Gallants”.

Fine deluxe surimono-style impression and colour. Margin trimmed to black line at left, otherwise fine condition on deluxe hosho. Signed Kunimasa monjin Masuharu ga ( “Masanobu pupil of Kunimasu” ).

status: available

MASUHARU (active c1840-1850)

The actor Arashi Rikan III as Ukiyo Tohei in the kabuki play Sendai Hagi performed at the Onishi theatre in 3/1848. From the set: Date kurabe kyokaku den, “A Comparison of the Stylishness of Famous Gallants”.

Fine deluxe surimono-style impression and colour. Margin trimmed a little at top, otherwise fine condition on deluxe hosho. Signed Kunimasa monjin Masuharu ga ( “Masuharu pupil of Kunimasu” )

status: available

Ryusai SHIGEHARU (1803-1853)

A bust portrait of the actor Arashi Rikan in an onnagata role as Osome. Published by Honsei c1830-32. A border of game cards, balls and battledore and shuttlecock. Forms a complete diptych design with print below.

Very good impression, colour and condition. Full size. Signed Gyokuryutei Shigeharu ga.

status: sold

Ryusai  SHIGEHARU (1803-1853)

A bust portrait of the actor Ichikawa Danzo in the role of Hisamatsu. Published by Honsei c1830-32. A border of game cards, balls and battledore and shuttlecock.

Very good impression and colour. One very small wormhole and minor marks, otherwise very good condition. Full size. Signed Gyokuryutei Shigeharu ga.

status: sold

Gigado ASHIYUKI (FI. 1814-1833)

The actor Arashi Kitsusaburo II as Minamoto Sanmi Yorimasa about to kill the composite beast, the Nue, with an arrow. Dated Bunsei 5, 9th month (1817).

Very good impression and colour. Deluxe printing on heavy hosho. Very good condition. Signed Ashiyuki.