Dealing in fine Japanese prints, paintings and books since 1968
Dealing in fine Japanese prints, paintings and books since 1968
Click here to view image full size. Hohodemi Mikoto battling a giant bream to regain the magic fish hook. The best design from a fine chuban set Biyu Suikoden published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 (this being 1867). He eventually marries the Sea God’s daughter Princess Toyotama. There is a later edition with the publisher’s name removed. Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Kaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Raiko and his four retainers: from left to right, Sakata no Kintoki, Usui no Sadamitsu, Watanabe no Tsuna and Urabe no Suyetake on Oyeyama, “Devil’s Mountain.” Shows Raiko having just decapitated the giant head of the demon Shuten-doji which then descended upon his helmet. Unidentified publisher, 1858. Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. Signed Ichieisai Yoshitsuya ga Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Fushimi ojishin Momoyama goten no zu. Shows Kato Kiyomasa protecting Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the earthquake which destroyed the Fushimi castle two years after it was completed in 1594. Published by Fukase, 1885. Very fine impression, colour and condition with extra paper around. Signed Oju Taiso Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Ina-uye Daikuro Masatada (Inoue Daikuro Nagayoshi) in armour but without helmet, his sashimono adorned with a skull, about to discharge a huge gun. From the set Taiheiki yeiyuden, “Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki. A history of the wars of the loyalist Nitta and Kusunoki families against the Ashikaga war-lords during the second quarter of the fourteenth century. But in fact the subject of this set of fifty prints (this design numberSurimono 033ed 47) is the civil war of the late 16th century. Censorship restrictions imposed in the 1840s prevented publishers from illustrating historical subjects from the Tensho era 1573-92 onwards, so the publishers circumvented this by slightly altering the names of the historical figures. Published 1848-9 by Yamamoto-ya Heikichi. Robinson S62.16. One of the best designs from the set. Fine impression, colour, and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Kido Takuzayemon Nagachika (Kido Sakuzaemon Norishige) on stone steps above a river attempting to prise open a metal grill. He was lord of the castle of Uda in Higo Province. From the set Taiheiki yeiyuden, “Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki. A history of the wars of the loyalist Nitta and Kusunoki families against the Ashikaga war-lords during the second quarter of the fourteenth century. But in fact the subject of this set of fifty prints (this design not numbered) is the civil war of the late 16th century. Censorship restrictions imposed in the 1840s prevented publishers from illustrating historical subjects from the Tensho era 1573-92 onwards, so the publishers circumvented this by slightly altering the names of the historical figures. Published 1848-9 by Yamamoto-ya Heikichi. Robinson S62.19. One of the best designs from the set. Fine impression and colour. Small binding holes, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Orio Mosuke Yasuharu (Horio Mosuke Yoshiharu) in early youth overcoming a huge wild boar. A feat which caused Hideyoshi to take him into his service. From the set Taiheiki yeiyuden, “Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki. A history of the wars of the loyalist Nitta and Kusunoki families against the Ashikaga war-lords during the second quarter of the fourteenth century. But in fact the subject of this set of fifty prints (this design not numbered) is the civil war of the late 16th century. Censorship restrictions imposed in the 1840s prevented publishers from illustrating historical subjects from the Tensho era 1573-92 onwards, so the publishers circumvented this by slightly altering the names of the historical figures. Published 1848-9 by Yamamoto-ya Heikichi. Robinson S62.27. One of the best designs from the set. Fine impression, colour, and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Saito Toshimoto nyudo Ryuhon (Saito Toshimitsu nyudo Ryuhon) in armour struggling with a Chinese brigand underwater. From the set Taiheiki yeiyuden, “Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki. A history of the wars of the loyalist Nitta and Kusunoki families against the Ashikaga war-lords during the second quarter of the fourteenth century. But in fact the subject of this set of fifty prints (this numbered 48) is the civil war of the late 16th century. Censorship restrictions imposed in the 1840s prevented publishers from illustrating historical subjects from the Tensho era 1573-92 onwards, so the publishers circumvented this by slightly altering the names of the historical figures. Published 1848-9 by Yamamoto-ya Heikichi. Robinson S62.31. One of the best designs from the set. Fine early impression. Fine colour. Slight nibbling to left edge, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A still life surimono showing a right-eye flounder or flatfish, Karei, and a red bream, kaneme-tai. And small unidentified vegetables. Provenance: A slip from a catalogue on the back indicates that it comes from a Paris sale, probably early 20th century describing it as Limande et dorade. Hokkei is best known for his surimono. He was originally a fishmonger, hence his name Totoya, and also accounts for the number of surimono he designed with fish and shells. Extremely rare. Fine impression and colour with mica on the bream. Minor soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hokkei. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. The most gruesome of Yoshitoshi’s designs showing the old hag of the Lonely House about to eviscerate the pregnant woman hanging from the roof. Published by Matsui Eikichi, 1885. Fine impression of the first edition. Little work has been done on the various states in this set other than that most were reprinted by Hasegawa Tsunejiro. Fine colour. Very full size with large margins left, top and where the sheets join. (The left border is often trimmed thereby losing the publication details.) Minor soil, otherwise fine condition. On thick hosho. Signed Oju Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. The stern of a large sailing-junk and a smaller vessel infront. A poem by Sangi Takamura (Ono no Takamura) from Hyaku-nin isshu, “The Hundred Poets” published by Ebine c 1838. Depending which story one reads, either Takamura, who was a customs official for ships trading to and from China, went missing on a mission or was reported for being an extortioner and banished to the Oki Islands. Either way, he was subsequently pardoned. One of the best designs from this fine set. Robinson S19.11 and illustrated in Robinson (1961), no. 59. Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing the famous battle on Gojo Bridge between Ushiwaka Maru (Minamoto no Yoshitsune’s childhood name) and Benkei. Yoshitsune is aided by Sojobo, King of the Tengu (white-bearded in the centre), and other yamabushi tengu. Published by Enshuya Hikobei, 1847-50. Robinson T194. Very fine impression and colour. Fine condition. This is the best example I have seen of this design. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare uncut fan print: Kominato in Awa Province from Boso meisho, Famous Places in Awa, Kazusa and Shimosa Provinces. Shows beauties viewing the bay. Another impression illustrated in Hiroshige no uchiwae, Hiroshige Fan Prints, Okuda, Atsuko, Unsodo, 2010, no 91, p 68 (plus two others from the set). Five other designs presently known: Hoda Coast; Mount Kiyosumi; Mount Fuji from Kisarazu; Mount Kano, and Kisarazu in Kazusa Province. Published by Tsujiya Yasubei, 12 Certainly one of the few impressions extant. Very fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A long surimono showing a fan with an image of Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Soga no Goro in the play Yanone, “The Arrow Head.” To the left a fan shape with a poem by Sansho VII (Ichikawa Danjuro VII) and irises. Extremely rare. This impression sold by me in 1997. Issued c 1814. These long surimono were published with the poems attached but were invariably removed by collectors as being a distraction from the image. Very good impression and colour. Minor soil, otherwise good condition. Signed Gototei Kunisada ga. A name bottom left corner reads Onishi Tokuzo II. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Mount Haruna in snow, Kozuke Province.One of the best designs from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces.” The series published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 (this being 8/1853). Very good impression and colour. Margins trimmed a little, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing the Japanese Buddhist goddess Benten, as always with her lute, and a monkey and rat holding a scroll showing the short months (2,4,7,9,12) for the Rat year, 1828. Benten (Hindu: Saraswati) originates from India via China. She is also one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. A fukujuso plant in a pot to her right. Poems by Ganjotei Shirataka and Tetsujoan Maori. Very fine impression with extensive silver and gold. Signs of mounting au verso, otherwise very good condition. Fine colour. Signed Hokkei. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A complete setsugekka koban surimono-style set of triptychs: Snow, Moon, Flowers. Each triptych shows actors in the snow (from left: Matsumoto Koshiro V; Iwai Kumesaburo II; Ichikawa Danjuro VII); in moonlight (Iwai Shijaku I; Bando Mitsugoro III; Iwai Hanshiro V); and admiring the spring blossoms ( Onoe Kikugoro III; Segawa Kikunojo V; Seki Sanjuro II). Published by Mikawaya Seiemon (who specialised in these koban surimono-style prints) c 1825. Extremely rare. One other complete set is in the Harvard Art Museum, acquisition numbers 206831; 207183; 207139. Very fine impressions. These are not true surimono, although they are listed in some books and catalogues as such. However, they are printed with the same delicacy with beautiful blind-printing. Fine colour. Small nicks out of the corners, otherwise fine condition. Each sheet signed Oju Kunisada ga. Status: Sold Click here to view image full size. Click here to view image full size.
Click here to view image full size. Kesa Gozen writing her last words before dying for her husband, the palace guard Minamoto Wataru from the set Kokoku nijushiko, “The Twenty-four Accomplishments in Imperial Japan.” Published by Tsuda Genshichi, 1881-87 (this being 1887). This is the first edition. It was republished by Matsuki Heikichi with altered signatures and other changes and inferior printing. Very fine impression, colour and condition. Superb gradation and blind-printing. Signed Taiso Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Hatsuhana’s long penance under the Tonozawa waterfall to aid her crippled husband “Hazari” Katsugoro who is intent on revenging his brother’s murder. Hatsuhana dies, Katsugoro is cured and kills his arch enemy near the waterfall. From the set Kenjo reppuden, “Stories of Wise and Virtuous Women.” Published by Ibaya Sensaburo, 1841-2. Fine impression and colour. One backed wormhole top left, otherwise good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Masaki yukibare no zu, “Clear Weather After Snow at Masaki” from a Toto Meisho, “Famous Sights of the Eastern Capital” set published by Kikakudo (Sanoki), the seal in red in right margin c 1832-35. There is confusion over how many prints belong to this series: The original set of twenty-one prints seems to have been extended to fifty-five in c 1839-42. The temple, under a deep layer of snow, is shown on the far shore. In the foreground two figures in yellow straw coats navigate the river. Very fine impression. Fine colour. Later editions have the black seal of Sanoki in right margin. Very slight centre fold and two backed pinholes; trimmed just on the black title slip on right, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A vertical diptych showing Taira no Atsumori and Kumagai Naozane at the battle of Ichinotani in 1184. The story relates how Naozane cuts off the head of Atsumori but is overwhelmed by remorse because he looked so much like his son. Published by Matsui, Meiji 18, 1885. Superb impression. Very fine colour and condition with ample room for joining. Untrimmed. (An essential with this set as the publishing information is often on the left margin.) The first edition (indeed, this may be the earliest state of the first edition). Signed Oju Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Saigo Takamori yumei hosho. Shows the ghost of Marshall Takamori ( 1827 -1877 ) holding a petition. Best known as the leader of the Satsuma rebellion, which was finally quashed at Kagoshima on Sept. 24th 1877. Saigo was wounded in the leg and his faithful retainer, Beppu Shinsuke, put an end to his life. A popular figure with a statue being erected in his honour in 1899 at the entrance to Ueno Park in Tokyo, and his son being made a Marquis in 1902. This print, published by Funazu Chujiro, was issued just under a year after he died in 7 Exceptionally rare: One other ( trimmed ) impression illustrated in Beauty & Violence, Havilland Press, 1992, no. 37, p. 124. Interestingly, the print has a price of two sen, five rin marked on it. Fine impression and colour. The ornate brocade printed in silver. Trimmed close on two sides and minor marks, otherwise good condition. Signed Oju “By special request” Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Hatakeyama Shoji Shigetada wounded by soldiers of his Lord Hojo Tokimasa. One of the best designs from a fine set: Yoshitoshi musha burui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors” published by Kobayashi Tetsujiro, 1883. This is the first edition with two red seals left margin, complete date with day, month and year in left margin and three-colour cartouche. Subsequent editions were printed with only two-colour cartouche and then just one colour. It was also reprinted by Tsunajima Kamekichi in 1886. Fine impression and colour. Slight browning, otherwise very good condition. Signed Taiso Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Hojo Tokimasa praying to a goddess in the sea. One of the best designs from a fine set: Yoshitoshi musha burui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors” published by Kobayashi Tetsujiro, 1883. This is the first edition with two red seals left margin, complete date with day, month and year in left margin and (on this design) a two–colour cartouche. Subsequent editions were printed with only one colour. It was also reprinted by Tsunajima Kamekichi in 1886. Fine impression and colour. Burnishing and mica added. Slight browning, otherwise very good condition. Signed Taiso Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Lu Ta ( Lu Chi Shen ) demolishing the gate of the temple of the Five-Crested Mountain. A Chinese captain, he accidentally killed a man and to escape death he became a priest at the temple. The abbot cut his hair and renamed him Lu Chi Shen, “Lu of Deep Wisdom.” However, quickly disregarding priestly vows, he became violent again and drank heavily. Staggering back one night he shattered the temple gate fighting the huge wooden guardian figures. The abbot dismissed him and he reappears as one of the 108 heroes of the Suikoden. Published by Matsui 1887. Very fine impression of the earliest state of the first edition with blind printing and burnishing. This design was reprinted by Hasegawa with seal in upper left margin “Reproduction not permitted” and lacking date. Also, the lovely pigment used to colour the torso of the guardian figure ( which oxidizes ) is replaced with an inferior colour . There are also intermediate printings between first and Hasegawa version. Fine colour. Some discolouration on the reverse not affecting the front, otherwise fine condition with left margin intact. On thick hosho: These vertical designs must have the left border uncut as it often contains publication information. Signed Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A triptych Shijo-nawate nite Nanke no yeiyu taiteki wo. The last stand of the Kusunoki at Shijo-nawate under a hail of arrows in 1348. Right to left: Wada Shinbochi (Genshu), Kusunoki Masatsura, and Masatomo. Their blue demeaner indicates their imminent demise. Published 1857 by So-To (Sagamiya Tokichi). This forms a 6-sheet composition showing Masayuki, Koshiro Hyogo, and Noda Shiro. Robinson T346. Fine impression and colour. Imperceptible fold on last sheet and slight discolouration in margins, otherwise very good condition. Full size. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A poem by Fujiwara no Yoshitaka (954-974) from Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, the “Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse.” Published by Eijudo and Iseri, c 1835-6. Although obviously intended to be a set of 100 prints, only 27 are known plus drawings for others. The poet speaks of a trivial life prior to meeting his lover. Two women and their companions relax after a bath admiring the view across water. Steam rises from the bath and two cormorants are seen on the left. A languid scene and one of Hokusai’s most beautiful designs. Fine impression. Very good colour. Two states are known: the printers quickly discovered that the red seal at left was not easily discernible and cut the block to correct this. This is the first state but the seal can hardly be seen except on the reverse. Signed Zen Hokusai. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Kaido-maru (Kintoki) with his forest companion, a bear-cub, attacking a giant white monkey. The chubby Kintoki is always shown red-hued and wielding a giant axe. In this case he heaves a tree above his head. Published by Moritaya Hanzo, c 1827. Rare. Very good impression. Fine colour. Slightly trimmed, otherwise very good condition. Signed Gototei Kunisada ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Suruga Satta no kaijo, “The Sea at Satta, Suruga Province” from Fuji sanjurokkei, “The Thirty-Six Views of Fuji.” The best design from the set published by Koeido (Tsutaya Kichizo), 4 A huge wave breaks on the right releasing a flock of chidori. These birds were supposed to originate from the spume of these waves. Originally travellers on the Tokaido had to traverse the base of the cliff, to the left. However in 1655 a pass was cut in the cliff above. Fuji rises above the bay of Kiyomi. A very popular print. Fine impression and colour. One or two very minor marks, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. The Sanza Theatre, Saruwaka-cho showing women on the balcony of a tea-house overlooking the street from an oban set Edo Meisho of approx. 45 prints published by Yamada-ya, 1853 – 1858, half being published in 1853. This design published 1858. Fine impression and colour. Slight centre fold, otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Yoshiwara Station from a chuban Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. The set of 55 prints published by Iseya Rihei, c 1806. Unsigned but the original wrapper evidently had Hokusai’s signature. Two women, a man and boy press grapes. Fine impression. Extremely fine colour. One small repaired wormhole near edge, otherwise fine condition. Status: Sold