Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
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A rare complete pentaptych showing a princess and her retinue on two boats being ferried across a river. Published c 1810’s by Izumiya Ichibei.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Kikugawa Eizan hitsu.
Status: Sold
Suzuki HARUNOBU (1725-1770)
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A beautiful composition of a courtesan emerging from a mosquito net. Published c 1760’s. Ex collection Hayashi. Rare: not in Pins or Yoshida.
Very good impression and colour. Very slight soil but in very good condition for a pillar print of this period. Signed Harunobu ga..
Status: Sold
Eishosai CHOKI (Fl. c 1756-1808)
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The lovers Okiku and Yosuke play cat’s cradle. ( A children’s game in which two players alternately take from each other’s fingers an intertwined cord so as always to produce a symmetrical figure.) Published c 1804 by Takatsuya Isuke. A similar print with same signature and publisher is illustrated in Sadao Kikuchi, A Treasury of Japanese Wood Block Prints, 1963, ill. No. 644 ( from the Tokyo National Museum ). I cannot, at the present moment, locate another impression of this design. Choki prints are rare and his finest designs are the most prized possessions of any collection. Ex collection Sidney C. Ward.
Very good impression with extremely good colour. Light grey ground. The cutting and colouring of the pattern on the boy’s kimono is particularly fine. Minor creases, otherwise extremely good condition. On heavy hosho. Signed [ Momogawa ] Shiko ga.
Status: Sold
Kitao MASANOBU (Santo Kyoden) (1761-1816)
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The most famous double oban design from Yoshiwara keisai shin bijin awase jihitsu kagami, “A Mirror Comparing the Handwriting of New and Beautiful Courtesans of the Yoshiwara”. Published by Tsutaya Jusaburo, 1784. One of the most important and sumptuous publications. Shows the courtesans Hitomoto and Tagosode with their shinzo and kamuro. The first edition with the publishers’s address “Omonguchi” above seal and the only design fully signed. Jack Hillier’s copy of this print is illustrated in colour in his book Japanese Colour Prints, Phaidon, 1972, pl.25.
Fine impression with gauffrage. Very good colour. Slight soil but otherwise very good condition. Heavy hosho. Signed Kitao Rissai Masanobu ga.
Status: Sold
Kitao MASANOBU (Santo Kyoden) (1761-1816)
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A double oban design from Yoshiwara keisai shin bijin awase jihitsu kagami, “A Mirror Comparing the Handwriting of New and Beautiful Courtesans of the Yoshiwara”. Published by Tsutaya Jusaburo, 1784. One of the most important and sumptuous publications. Shows the courtesans Azumaya and Kokonoe of the Matsugane-ya house with their shinzo and kamuro. Second edition with revised palette.
Fine impression and colour. A few expertly repaired wormholes, otherwise very good condition.
Status: Sold
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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Looking chilly: the appearance of a cocubine of the Bunka era from the set Fuzoku sanjuniso, the “Thirty-Two Types of Beauty in Daily Life” published by Tsunashima 1888. The first edition.
Very fine impression and colour. Full size with extra paper left and top. Signed Yoshitoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Okumura MASANOBU (1686-1764)
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A pair of lovers. Obviously one sheet from a shunga album. A sumizuri-e print with careful hand-colouring. Although possibly not contemporary the colouring certainly has considerable age. Published c 1710s.
Very good impression. Slight offsetting of sumi and other minor soil and backed wormholes. Centre fold.
Status: Sold
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
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A seller of fan-papers ( Jigami-uri ) and a young beauty from an untitled series of eight prints published c1797 by Tsuruya Kiemon. The idealised itinerant merchant has black fan-shaped lacquer boxes perched on his shoulder. In his hand he holds a fan with an image of Daruma eyeing the couple. The set has some excellent designs: see The Passionate Art of Kitagawa Utamaro, Shugo Asano and Timothy Clark, 1995, no. 263, p. 141, for another. Two other illustrated ( trimmed ) examples of this print are in: Ukiyo Zuten, Kiyoshi Shibui, No 13, p.77, no.2 and Utamaro Zenshu, Yoshida, p.127
Fine impression. Extremely good, unfaded colour. Full size. Extremely good condition. Au verso small Japanese collector’s seal and a dealer’s seal and description. Signed Utamaro hitsu.
Status: Sold
Kochoro KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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A kakemono-e showing a full length beauty representing Moon from a set: Snow, Moon and Flowers of the Floating World. Published c1844.
Very good impression and colour. Light backing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Kunisada aratame ( “changed his name to” ) nidai ( “the second” ) Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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Chapter 51, Ukifune, from Nazoraye Genji kyokun dzuye, “Illustrations of Moral Conduct Compared with the Chapters of Genji”. A girl holding an umbrella on a snow covered bridge. Published by Maru-ya Jimpachi c1843. One of the best designs from the set.
Very good impression and colour. Light album backing. Very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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Chapter 41, Maboroshi, from Nazoraye Genji kyokun dzuye, “Illustrations of Moral Conduct Compared with the Chapters of Genji”. A girl watches returning geese against a full moon. Published by Maru-ya Jimpachi c1843. One of the best designs from the set.
Very good impression and colour. Light album backing. Very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga
Status: Sold
Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)
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A kakemono-e showing a promenading beauty.
Fine impression. Almost perfect colour and condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga.
Status: Sold
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
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A young beauty with child from a set Furyu kodakara rokkasen, “Six Poets in Modern Days with Darling Children”.
Very good impression on thick hosho. Very good colour and condition. Completely untrimmed. Signed Kikugawa Eizan fude.
Status: Sold
Kochoro KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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A fine composition showing the upper and lower floors of a brothel in the Yoshiwara. Natsu no bu, Summer, from a set of four prints: The View of Four Seasons in Modern Times. Published by Kikakudo 3/1856.
Fine impression, colour an condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOHIRO (1773-1828)
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A pillar print showing a young nobleman arranging irises in a vase. One of the most elegant pillar prints. Another (trimmed) impression, ex Ficke, is illustrated in Jacob Pins, The Japanese Pillar Print, mo 923, p326.
Fine impression. Minor marks and slight fading but generally very good condition for a design in this format,. Signed Toyohiro ga.
Status: Sold
Okumura TOSHINOBU (active 1717-1750)
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A hoso-e showing three beauties representing the three major Japanese cities: Kyoto; Osaka, and Edo. Published c1729.
Very good impression. Urushi-e, coloured by hand in mustard, lilac, green, beni, gold and heavy sumi over embossed pattern. Some toning, otherwise good condition. Signed Yamato gwako Okumura Toshinobu hitsu.
Status: Sold
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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Wanting a stroll. A Meiji beauty in western-style dress from the set Fuzoku sanjuniso, the “Thirty-Two Types of Beauty in Daily Life” published by Tsunashima 1888. The first edition.
Very fine impression and colour. Full size with extra paper left and top. Signed Yoshitoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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Smoky. A housewife from the Kyowa era fanning a fire from the set Fuzoku sanjuniso, the “Thirty-Two Types of Beauty in Daily Life” published by Tsunashima 1888. The first edition.
Very fine impression and colour. Full size with extra paper left and top. Signed Yoshitoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Hishikawa RYUKOKU (Fl. c1808-16)
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A rare artist working in the style of Utamaro. Shows the courtesan Sugawara of Tsuruya with a brush in her hand and an acolyte bringing ink. Unidentified publisher.
Fine impression. Very good colour. One light crease otherwise very good condition. Signed Ryukoku fude.
Status: Sold
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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A beauty powdering her face. From Kuniyoshi’s finest set of fan prints. An untitled series of at least eight designs showing young women in a state of dishabille at their toilette in front of mirrors, the corners partly concealed with cloth covers. Published c 1843-5 by Ibaya Sensaburo. For obvious reasons, uncut uchiwa-e are scarce. Indeed, there appears to be only one other impression of this design illustrated in an Exhibition of Ukiyo-e by Kuniyoshi, Riccar Art Museum, 1978, no. 172 and elsewhere ( from the Museum of Fine Arts, Bidwell Collection, Springfield USA ). The other known prints from this rare set are: 1) A beauty applying rouge to her lips; 2) A beauty shaving her forehead; 3) A beauty suckling a child; 4) A beauty adjusting her hair with scissors; 5) A beauty playing with a cat; 6) A beauty combing her hair; 7) A beauty about to brush her teeth.
Very good impression and colour. One small repaired wormhole, otherwise good condition. Uncut. The rich blue grounds on this series have added mica. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Ishikawa TOYONOBU (1711-1785)
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A wide hashira-e ( 27.5 x 10 in; 70 x 25.5 cms ). Urushi-e, hand-coloured in beni, blue, yellow, mustard and lilac. These early majestic Toyonobu prints are amongst the masterpieces of Ukiyoe. Of the utmost rarity: From a set of three prints of Beauties of the Three Capitals. Sanpukutsui Keichu, “ A Set of Three: Within Kyoto.”The other two designs show women from Edo and Osaka. The only other impression is illustrated in the Bulletin of the Worcester Art Museum, April, 1915, p. 8. There is also a hosoban triptych of same subject by Toyonobu, c 1750s, in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, accession number: 11.19672. This cheaper production follows the designs of the larger prints closely and was obviously intended to cash in on their popularity. Other similar designs were in the Vever sales, Sothebys, 26/3/1974 and 26/3/1975. Shows a standing courtesan with a pipe, her acolyte holding her tobacco tray. Published c 1747 by Mura ( Murata-ya ) hammoto.
Fine impression with extremely fine and delicate hand-colouring. Very slight creasing and very slight browning but otherwise in exceptional condition. Signed Tanjodo Ishikawa Shuha Toyonobu zu. Seals Toyonobu and Ishikawa uji.
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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An extremely rare hosoban showing the oiran Hanaogi with her two kamuro from the House of Ogi. This appears to have been from a series as I had another design from the set in my Catalogue 8, 1972, no 38, showing Hinazuru of Choji-ya. Another Eishi hosoban appeared in the Sotheby sale catalogue, July 1963, lot 195. A rare format for anything other than actor prints during this period. Published c 1792. Ex Mellor and P & L Warnock collections. Illustrated in The Floating World Exhibition: Japan’s World of Transient Pleasures, The Art Gallery of South Wales, Sydney, 1994, no. C6.
Very good impression and colour. Printed in tones of pale mauve and grey with details in yellow. Light yellow ground. Some slight soil. Signed Eishi ga.
Status: Sold