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Ichiosai KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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A triptych showing Inuzuka Shino at bay on the Horyukaku roof against Inukai Gempachi and his men. A famous episode from the Hakkenden written by Takizawa Bakin ( 1767 – 1848 ): Nanso Satomi Hakkenden no uchi Horyukaku no zu. The Daimyo, the Lord of Satomi, ordered Kenpachi to kill Shino – a strong man and great fighter who had killed some twenty retainers of the Lord. The pair fought on the roof only to fall into a boat on the river which broke loose and floated out to sea. The pair were discovered unconscious. Another, earlier triptych was designed by Kuniyoshi c 1836. Published c 1860 by Izutsuya.
Very fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Ichiosai Kunichika ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1798-1861)
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The super-strong small boy Kintaro ( Kaido-maru ) wielding a giant axe and with his forest companions a bear-cub and a monkey. One of Kuniyoshi’s finest designs from Rokuyosei Kuniyoshi jiman, “Six Conditions of Nature.” This design: Tai-an: A good day for travelling. Published by Uoya Eikichi, year of the monkey, 1860. Robinson S93.3.
Superb impression of the first edition with polishing and gauffrage on the bear-cub. Fine colour. Minimal trimming, otherwise fine condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1798-1861)
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One of Kuniyoshi’s finest designs from Rokuyosei Kuniyoshi jiman, “Six Conditions of Nature.” This design: Sembu: Not a very lucky day. 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. This subject lends itself to some wonderful designs: See this website for a rare horizontal triptych by Yoshitoshi and a vertical triptych by Kuniyoshi, and there are many single sheets by various artists. Published by Uoya Eikichi, year of the monkey, 1860. Robinson S93.4 and illustrated in colour, pl. 29, Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints, Phaidon, 1982. Rare.
Superb impression of the first edition with splashed gofun. Fine colour. Minimal trimming, otherwise fine condition. Signed Cho-o-ro Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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A woman ( Tomoe Gozen ? ) being poled down a river. From an extremely rare and early set of prints published by Marusei, c 1832-34. For three other designs from this set see Tamba, The Art of Hiroshige, nos. 131, 137, 138.
Fine impression and colour. Minor creasing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (TOYOSHIGE) (1777-1835)
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Clearing weather over the Enoshima Island from a Meisho hakkei, “Eight Views of Famous Places” ( based on the Eight Views of Omi theme ) set published 1830s by Iseri. A view of the island from Shichiri Beach in Sagami Province. The island was dedicated to Benten ( one of the seven gods of good luck ).
Fine impression. There are two states of this set: one with square and one with cursive script ( as here ) in the oblong cartouche at top. It is unclear which is the earliest. Fine impression. Small expert restoration to two upper corners, otherwise fine colour and condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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Soto Sakurada Benkeibori sakura no i, “ The Cherry Tree Well in Snow at Benkei Moat, Sakurada” from a Toto meisho set published by Maruya Seijiro c 1843-45. The outer moat of Edo castle is named after Benkei Shozaeman who undertook the construction during the Kan’ei period ( 1624-1643 ).
Fine impression of the first edition with the Watari censor seal bottom left overprinted in blue and careful gradation above and below on the moat. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Hatta KOSHU (1760-1822)
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One volume complete, Koshu gafu, “The Drawing Book of Koshu.” Original covers and title slip: 35 sheets ( numbered ex last sheet ); 5pp. preface dated Bunka 9 ( 1812 ), signed Kamo Suetaka, 30 double-page colour-printed illustrations, 1 p. signature Koshu, seal Fujizane and Koshu, 2pp. closing note, dated Bunka 9, signed Fuminoya Shigetaka; sheets numbered 1/2 advertisements of publisher Yoshida Shimbei, Kyoto. Colophon dated Bunka 9 with publishers Kawachiya Kihei, Osaka and Yoshidaya Shimbei, Kyoto. A fine artist who came under the influence of Okyo. Jack Hillier in The uninhibited brush, Hugh M. Moss ltd, 1974, p. 162, speaks of the Koshu gafu: “This is a perfect exposition of his quite personal style and shows his competence in handling widely varied subject matter.” A two-volume edition without date is known and probably constitutes a second edition ( Brown, p. 100; Gonse III, No. 520 ). Ex collections Hayashi Tadamasa and H.M.Kaempfer. Slight soil and staining. One page with a blue pigment mark and small ink inscription on front cover, otherwise very good condition.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1798-1861)
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Tamatori-hime stealing the sacred jewel from the Dragon King’s Palace, Ryugu Tamatori-hime no zu. Published by Yamaguchiya Tobei, Ox 6, 1853. The ama is shown being pursued by the Dragon King and his various fishy retainers. This was a favourite subject of Kuniyoshi’s and he designed a number of triptychs and single sheets. A wonderful and rare design.
Fine impression and colour. Extensive splashed gofun. Trimmed round, otherwise very good condition. Signed Chooro Kuniyoshi ga and Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1798-1861)
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Saginoike Heikuro from Honcho Suikoden goyu happyaku-nin no hitori, “Eight Hundred Heroes of our Country’s Suikoden, One by One.” Shows the brigand wrestling with a huge serpent at the Lake of Sayama ( or Hazama ) at Tondabayashi in the Province of Kawachi. Published by Ibaya Sensaburo, c 1845. Robinson S4b.4. Fine design.
Very good impression and colour. Full size. Slightly soiled bottom left, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1798-1861)
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Tenjiku Tokubei ( 1619-1686 ) from an untitled series of warrior prints published by Kawaguchi Uhei, 1826-27. Tokubei was celebrated for his travels to India, Macao and Siam, and subsequently wrote about his exploits. He is usually represented surrounded by frogs and making magic with his fingers ( as here – Gama Yojutsu ) which enabled him to change into a frog. He is shown astride an enormous frog in a thunderstorm. Fine design.
Very good impression and colour. Slightly trimmed at bottom, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Kochoro KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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An aizurie fan print of the Husband and Wife rocks, Futami beach, Ise Province. A favourite beauty spot and a Shinto site showing the tasselled rope hanging between the two formations. From a series of extremely rare aizurie fan prints published 5/1830 by Daikokuya. Indeed, this may be the only known impression of this design.
Very good impression and colour. Restored and laid onto stable Japanese paper.
Signed Oju Kunisada ga ( “By special request” ).
Status: Sold
Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)
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A vertical diptych of a carp leaping a waterfall. Published by Kansendo, c 1830 – 44. Illustrated Keisai Eisen: Artist of the Floating World, Chiba City Museum of Art, 2012, p. 240, pl. 313.
Very good impression, colour and condition. This was a popular design and later impressions are common. Signed Keisai hitsu with large red artist’s seal Eisen.
Status: Sold
Katsushika HOKUGA (Fl. c 1820s to 1830)
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An original fan painting showing a seated beauty holding a fan. Full colour on mica- covered paper. 6.5 x 18.5 in; 16.5 x 47 cms. Hokuga was a pupil of Hokusai and produced paintings and surimono. Good condition. Laid onto Japanese paper. Signed Hokuga hitsu.
Status: Sold
Katsukawa SHUNCHO (Fl. c 1780-1801)
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An original painting showing a standing beauty inserting a hairpin. An important print artist who produced many fine diptychs and triptychs. Paintings by him are rare. Studied under Shunsho, then Kiyonaga and Shumman. Full colour on silk, 30.75 x 10.5 in; 78 x 26.5 cms. Signed Shien Shuncho with unread seals.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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A triptych of a probably imaginary performance showing the actor Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Hachiman Taro Yoshiie (far left) with an actor dressed as a lion who shines a strong beam from a lantern across the other two sheets; the centre one showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro III as Abe Sadato with an actor dressed as a lion, and the right sheet showing the actor Bando Shuka I as Sadato’s wife Sodehagi with an actor dressed as an elephant. Published by Miyakozawa 1847-52.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Hanmoto no oujyu Toyokuni ga, “By the request of the publisher, painted by Toyokuni.”
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
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Matsumoto Koshiro V as the evil retainer Nikki Danjo who plots to overthrow his lord in the play Meiboku sendai hagi, “Precious Incense and the Bush Clover of Sendai.” From the last great actor set which was planned as a monument to his career and only used the most expensive materials. An untitled set with seventy-two prints completed on his death. ( One hundred and fifty were intended and some are in fact by Yoshitora. ) This is one of the best designs from the set showing a fine profile of an actor who was nicknamed Hanataka Koshiro, “Big-nosed Koshiro.” He made this role very much his own and to this day many actors still wear a mole on their foreheads in his honour. Published 1863 by Kinshodo.
Very fine impression. Fine colour with extensive burnishing to the hair. On thick hosho and with the extra large margins of the first issues before being bound into albums. Slight soil at edge of margins, top and bottom, otherwise very good condition. Signed Nanajuhassai ( “At the age of seventy-eight” ) Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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Flowers from a set of three triptychs showing half-length portraits of actors based on the Snow, Moon, Flowers theme. Shows the actor Ichikawa Sadanji as Gosho no Gorozo, the main character in the play Soga moyo tateshi no goshozome, “The Story of Gorozo, the Chivalrous Commoner.” A complex story which ends with Gorozo killing his old master’s lover, the courtesan Oshu. Published by Akiyama Buemon, 1890.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Yoshitoshi.
Status: Sold
Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1792)
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A hosoban of the actor Otani Hiroji III in the role of a samurai, one sword drawn with the scabbard lying at his feet. Published c 1776.
Fine impression. Very good colour. Fine condition. Signed Shunsho ga.
Status: Sold
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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The actor Nakamura Shikan IV as Daizen from a fine set of prints showing actors glimpsed through their dressing room sliding doors, prior to going on stage. Their figures partly silhouetted as are their assistants, here aiding the actor with his headpiece. From a set Gakuya nikai kage no hyoban, “Popularity of the Upstairs Dressing Room.” The set published by Takagawa Fusajiro, 1883.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Full size. Signed Toyohara Kunichika hitsu.
Status: Sold
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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The actor Suketakaya Takasuke IV as Sakuramaru from a fine set of prints showing actors glimpsed through their dressing room sliding doors, prior to going on stage. Their figures partly silhouetted as are their assistants, here aiding the actor with his sword. From a set Gakuya nikai kage no hyoban, “Popularity of the Upstairs Dressing Room.” The set published by Takagawa Fusajiro, 1883.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Full size. Signed Toyohara Kunichika hitsu.
Status: Sold
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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The actor Onoe Kikugoro V as Hisayoshi from a fine set of prints showing actors glimpsed through their dressing room sliding doors, prior to going on stage. Their figures partly silhouetted as are their assistants, here aiding the actor with his costume. From a set Gakuya nikai kage no hyoban, “Popularity of the Upstairs Dressing Room.” The set published by Takagawa Fusajiro, 1883.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Full size. Signed Toyohara Kunichika hitsu.
Status: Sold
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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The actor Onoe Taganojo II from a fine set of prints showing actors glimpsed through their dressing room sliding doors, prior to going on stage. Their figures partly silhouetted as are their assistants, here aiding the actor with his headpiece. From a set Gakuya nikai kage no hyoban, “Popularity of the Upstairs Dressing Room.” The set published by Takagawa Fusajiro, 1883.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Full size. Signed Toyohara Kunichika hitsu.
Status: Sold
Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1729-1792)
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A hosoban showing the actor Arashi Sangoro II in the role of Ito Kuro disguised as Banta in the play Izu-goyomi shibai no ganjitsu performed at the Morita Theatre, 11/1772. He holds a brazier aloft and stands in deep snow.
Fine impression. Pristine colour. Small thinned area at top, otherwise fine condition. Full size. Signed Shunsho ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)
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An untrimmed aiban fan print showing the actor Nakamura Shikan II on an outing to view the summer fireflies. Ukiyo hotarugari, “Firefly Viewing in the Floating World.” Published by Ibaya Kyubei, 1831.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Kochoro Kunisada ga.
Status: Sold
Ippitsusai BUNCHO (Fl. c 1755-1790)
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A hosoban showing the actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II standing before a torii and looking down at a snake. Not listed in the Riccar Art Museum Exhibition Of Ukiyo-e By Ippitsusai Buncho, 1978. Published c 1769.
Very good impression. Extremely well preserved colour. Probably slightly trimmed on right and slight soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Buncho ga.
Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOKUNI (1769-1825)
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A print from the series Mitate Kofukujin, “ A Parody of Children’s Gods.” Featured are two of the seven gods of good fortune compared to famous heroes. Top left: Bishamonten no mitate, Tawara Toda Hidesato (Tawara Toda Hidesato defeating the giant centipede, compared to the god Bishamon). Bottom right: Daikoku no mitate, Otokonosuke, Hakuen (Ichikawa Hakuen I in the role of Arajishi Otokonosuke, compared to the god Daikoku). Hakuen (formerly Danjuro V) had already retired by this date so this does not depict an actual performance. However, the hero Otokonosuke is famous from the play Meiboku Sendai Hagi. Published 1804 by Nishimuraya Yohachi.
Very good impression and color. Small corner repair and slight edge soil, otherwise good condition. Signed Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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A fine set of prints showing actors preparing backstage for their performances. Haiyu gakuya no omokage, “Images of Actors in the Green Rooms.” Here Ichikawa Danjuro IX is shown in dressing gown being fanned by an attendant (off picture). Published 1888 by Sasaki Toyokichi.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Toyohara Kunichika hitsu.
Status: Sold
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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A fine set of prints showing actors preparing backstage for their performances. Haiyu gakuya no omokage , “Images of Actors in the Green Rooms.” Here Nakamura Fukusuke IV is shown preparing to put on makeup while an attendant (off picture) holds up what is presumably a supporter’s banner. Published 1888 by Sasaki Toyokichi.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Toyohara Kunichika hitsu.
Status: Sold
Anonymous
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An early Osaka kappazuri-e hosoban diptych (printed with woodblock outline and stencilled colours) showing, on the left sheet, Ichikawa Danzo V in the role of Genta Kagesue, and on the right sheet Arashi Kitsusaburo II in the role of Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka in the “Genta Kando” act of Hirakana seisuiki, performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai, Osaka, 7/1827. Unidentified publisher’s seal. Complete diptychs are very rare.
Fine impression: Beautifully printed for a kappazuri print. Fine colour and condition.
Status: Sold
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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A triptych of the famous scene from Meiboku Sendai hagi “The Disputed Succession” showing Kawarasaki Gonjuro I as Arajishi Otokonosuke and Onoe Kikugoro V as Yoshio. The rat with the scroll of conspirators is attacked, escapes, and reappears through a trapdoor in its true guise as the evil Nikki Danjo. Published by Tsujiokaya Bunsuke, 1869.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Kunichika hitsu.
Status: Sold