Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing the strong woman of Omi, Okane, stopping a runaway horse from a temple by holding its tether down with her geta. Published for the year of the Horse, 1834. Fine impression and colour. Areas of gold and silver. Some slight crinkling, otherwise very good […]
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare and unusual surimono: I have only seen two impressions – both of which have passed through my hands, and one of which was gifted to the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Shows the most famous playwright of his age – Tsuruya Nanboku IV (1755-1829). His crest is clearly […]
Yashima GAKUTEI (1786?-1868)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono, Komatsu Shigemori, from the Heike Monogatari. One of a set with series title: Honchoren honcho nijushiko, “Twenty-four Japanese Paragons of Filial Piety for the Honcho Circle.” Issued by the Honchoren poetry club, c. 1821. Shows Taira no Kiyomori (1118-81) seated in an alcove being admonished by […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (1777-1835)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing a bust portrait of the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Kanawa no Goro, a retainer of Kamatari no Fujiwara, disguised as the fisherman Fukashichi from the Mikasayama Goten scene at the palace on Mount Mikasa in Act 4 of Imoseyama onna teikino. Three poems by […]
Yashima GAKUTEI (1786-1868)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono, Ni, Yukiwake no Wakanaya uchi Koromode, “Number Two: The Snow Clothes of Koromode of the Wakanaya” from the pentaptych entitled Hisakataya Nakanocho, “The Nakanocho for the Hisakataya Poetry Club.” Issued c. 1827. Shows the oiran Koromode of the Wakanaya parading with her Shinzo and another courtesan […]
Katsushika TAITO II (Fl. c 1810-1850)
Click here to view image full size. One of the great surimono designs and extremely rare: There appear to be four other genuine examples recorded, apart from this impression, which is from the Vever collection. (See Vever sale, Sothebys, 1977, lot 302. In fact, Vever had two copies. The other sold Vever sale, Sothebys, 1978, […]
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing the poetess Kiyogaki standing on Mukaigaoka Hill overlooking a frozen Shinobazu Pond with the shrine of Benten. (And since the snake was the messenger of Benten, this print was probably issued for Snake Year 1833.) Two poems by Tojuen Kiyogaki and Yayoian. Fine impression […]
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono from a set Onkyoku zukushi, “An Array of Songs.” In the cartouche, top right, on the right, is Tokiwazu (a school of vocal music featuring the 3-stringed shamisen), and on the left the title of the musical piece illustrated here, which is Oimatsu, “Old Pine Tree,” […]
Yashima GAKUTEI (1786-1868)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing Li Kui (Jap: Ri Ki), one of the brigands from the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (the Suikoden). He was nicknamed the “Black Whirlwind” and is usually shown wielding two giant axes (as here). From a set Suiko Juban, “Ten […]
Utagawa KUNINAO (1793-1854)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono with series title Bijin awase, “Beautiful Women.” Shows a scantily clad diver emerging from waves holding an abalone shell and clinging to a rock. There are obvious erotic overtones to this wonderful surimono: Awabi divers were objects of great voyeuristic curiosity to the general public and […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono from a series: Fuzoku onna Suikoden hyakuhachiban no uchi, “Modern Women as the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Suikoden.” Shows a beauty leaning on a fulling block beside a stream. She gazes at a flowering cherry tree with a village in the distance beneath […]
Ryuryukyo SHINSAI (1764[?]-1823)
Click here to view image full size. An early pupil of Hokusai who is best known for his fine surimono, but also produced a series of semi-western style landscapes and some paintings. A still life showing a group of pouches, one revealing a lacquered surface with a stylised dragon. Dragon year was 1808 and 1820. […]
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing an unidentified fish – possibly a flying fish and carnations. An apparently unrecorded surimono. A pupil of Hokusai, Hokkei’s oeuvre was almost entirely in this genre, apart from illustrating ehon. Very good impression and colour. Slight crease, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hokkei. […]
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size. An uncut large surimono with the poems attached showing a rustic bridge in a country setting. Geese flying above. Published c 1810s. Provenance: Ex Samuel Tuke collection, seal centre left. Tuke was a member of the Japan Society of London and many of his prints went to the […]
Chokotei TOSHIMASA (Active c 1810s)
Click here to view image full size. A long surimono for a Horse year (probably 1810). Shows the Five Festivals, Gosekku no uchi, which are: Matsu-no-uchi, New Year; Hinamatsuri, Girls’ Day, or Doll Festival; Tango-no-sekku, Boys’ Day; Tanabata, Star Festival; Choyo-no-sekku, Chrysanthemum Festival. Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Chokotei Toshimasa hitsu. […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (1777-1835)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing a bust portrait of the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Kanawa no Goro, a retainer of Kamatari no Fujiwara, disguised as the fisherman Fukashichi from the Mikasayama Goten scene in Act 4 of Imoseyama onna teikino. Three poems by Shoshokyo Otokado, Sakuragawa Jihinari, and Sakuragawa […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono in the form of an ema (literally “picture-horse”) which were votive tablets left at Shinto shrines. The upper right plaque shows an actor in Shibaraku role with characters reading ganshu (temple petitioner) Bunri. Below, ten poems by poets from Edo, Kyoto and Osaka. The poem below […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)
Click here to view image full size. Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare and unusual e-goyomi surimono for the year of the Horse, 1822, the long and short months running along the top of the theatre curtain. The surimono shows the Ichimura Theatre in Edo. The theatre curtain over the stage […]
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing three overlapping fans. The top fan shows the first sunrise of the new year behind a shachi on a castle roof. Usually called dolphins, they in fact had the head of a tiger and body of a carp. The second shows a court lady and […]
Yashima GAKUTEI (1786-1868)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono – one of a series that Gakutei designed in the curved shape of a folding fan. Shows a seated poet before Mt. Fuji holding a fan and dressed in courtly robes with a New Year pattern of pine trees and an eboshi cap. Two others from […]
Katsukawa SHUNTEI (1770-1820)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono, number two, from a set of three entitled Buyu sanban tsuzuki, “Three Examples of Martial Bravery.” Shows Minamoto no Tametomo (1139-1170). A famed archer and of huge stature, he is shown here with his bow and arrows being offered a coral tree from a representative of […]
Utagawa SADAKAGE (Act. c 1818-1844)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing a courtesan and her acolyte playing a Hyakunin Isshu version of uta-garuta, a card game where a hundred poets are matched to a hundred poems. Karasaki: Night rain on a festival day from a set of surimono Kuruwa hakkei, “Eight Views in the Licensed District […]
Yashima GAKUTEI (1786-1868)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono with title Kiyomihara no Oji, “The Kiyomihara Prince” from a set based on the Uji Shui Monogatari, “Tales Gleaned from the Uji Councillor,” this being Minamoto no Takakuni (1004-77). This episode from chapter 15 relates how the succession to the Emperor Tenji, who had died, is […]
ANONYMOUS
Click here to view image full size. An unusual and rare surimono showing a matsutake, pine mushroom, and an akagai, red clam. Obvious sexual connotations due to their similarity to the human anatomy. The inscription is enigmatically signed Master In-The-Clouds or Humourously related by the Master who is relaxing and drinking while living in the […]
Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769-1825)
Click here to view image full size. A pupil of Toyoharu, he is best known for his fine actor prints at the end of the 18th century. He had many pupils. A koban surimono showing Ichikawa Danjuro VII in Shibaraku with the voluminous costume and chikara gami “strength papers” sticking up at the back of […]
Yanagawa SHIGENOBU II (active c 1820s-1850s)
Click here to view image full size. Number one from a surimono series Hana-awase, “A Flower Competition.” Sub-title Takane no hana, “Flowers of the Peak.” A princess turns to her attendant. Published c early 1830s. Fine impression with touches of gold and silver. Fine colour and condition. Signed Yanagawa Shigenobu. Status: Sold
Honda UNRIN (Active c. late Edo period)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono of a male and female red-crowned crane (aka Manchurian crane). Behind a huge setting sun. The crane represents good fortune, longevity and fidelity in Japan and is a popular subject for surimono. Unrin, a Nanga/Shijo artist, was a pupil of Tetsuo (1791-1871). Issued c. 1840s. […]
Katsukawa SHUNTEI (1770-1820)
Click here to view image full size. A woman playing a koto from the set: Hanagasa-ren Shichifukujin, “Seven Women as the Gods of Good Luck for the Hanagasa Club. Each beauty represents a god, presumably in this case Benten. The series may be a parody of the new year tradition of making a pilgrimage to […]
Yashima GAKUTEI ( 1786-1864 )
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing the Chinese warrior Huang Zhong ( Jap: Ko Chu, d. 220 AD ). Best known for his role in the novel Tale of the Three Kingdoms. He is shown wearing tiger skin breeches and armed with a large sword, bow and arrows. From a set […]
Yashima GAKUTEI ( 1786-1864 )
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing the Chinese warrior Ma Chao ( Jap: Ba Cho, 176-222 AD ). Best known for his role in the novel Tale of the Three Kingdoms. He is shown leaning on a giant axe. From a set Go koshogun, “The Five Tiger Generals.” Title on right […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI ( 1760-1849 )
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing two young girls making new year envelopes. On the side screen is a view of Fuji. Three poems above. Published c 1806. Fine impression and colour. Small strengthened area au verso, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hokusai ga. Status: Sold
Yashima GAKUTEI ( 1780-c 1869 )
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing the nine-tailed fox ( Tamamo-no-mae ) and the warrior Miuranosuke who was a palace guard in the court of Emperor Konoe ( 1139-1155 ). Issued c 1826 for a sub-group of the Biwa-ren poetry circle ( emblem top right ) headed by Benbenkan. Poems by […]
Harukawa GOSHICHI ( 1776-1831 )
Click here to view image full size. A rare Edo artist and poet who moved to Kyoto in the late 1810s. This Osaka surimono is extremely subtle showing a moon printed in silver amongst clouds and slanting rain. The artist was active c 1810s-1820s. The seal bottom right is of Tani Seiko – the leading […]
Ryuryukyo SHINSAI ( 1764-1820s )
Click here to view image full size. A rare surimono showing a carp and water-weeds. The carp was a symbol of achievement against adversity in Japan and had a connotation with the new year. Issued c 1822. Very good impression with the water blind-printed. Some loss of gold. Very good condition. Signed Shinsai. Status: Sold
Yashima GAKUTEI ( 1790-1869 )
Click here to view image full size. A rare chuban yoko-e surimono from a series Kinki shoga or the Four Accomplishments. These pursuits were popular amongst Chinese and Japanese literati: Playing a musical instrument; playing go; calligraphy, and ( as here ) painting. The composition shows a Heian courtier and two court ladies admiring a […]
UNSIGNED
Click here to view image full size. A ( possibly unique ) new year surimono showing a geisha leaving the Bandaikan, a bathhouse called Bandai, “Eternity.” She is biting on a hand towel which had sexual connotations – the anticipation of a sexual encounter perhaps. This surimono is attributed to Yanagawa Shigenobu ( 1787-1833 ). […]
Yanagawa SHIGENOBU II ( active 1824-1860 )
Click here to view image full size. A sumptuously attired princess admiring two bonsai trees. ( Her rank is determined by the elaborate tsuzumi [ hand drum ] hair ornament. ) Number six from a set Hana awase, “A Flower Competition.” This title usually referred to a poetry contest in which teams competed to produce […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing a bamboo-ware maker. One of the characters from Taketori monogatari, “Tale of the Shining Princess.” He is shown sawing through a large bamboo stem surrounded by his tools. Behind him an uguisu ( bush warbler, signifying the arrival of spring ) sits on a bamboo […]
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare surimono: I have only seen one other impression and that was one I purchased around 20 years ago. Shows the most famous playwright of his age – Tsuruya Nanboku IV ( 1755 – 1829 ). His crest is clearly visible on his shoulders. He died […]
Shibata ZESHIN (1807-1891)
Click here to view image full size. A rare surimono showing a family going kite flying. The man carrying a huge example on his back. Very good impression and colour. Minor soil, otherwise good condition. Signed Zeshin with seal. Status: Sold