Torii KIYOTOMI (FL. c 1720 -1740)
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The actor Ogino Isaburo I looking down on the onnagata actor Fujimura Handayu II. An inscription above Ogino Isaburo states: Kyo Shijo kudari, “Coming from Shijo (Fourth Street) from the Capital.” Indicating the actor was on tour in Edo. Kyoto was considered the capital at that time and the Kabuki theatre was located on Fourth Street in Kyoto. Published by Igaya Kan’emon (Bunkido) c mid 1720s.
Very good impression. Urushi beni-e with hand-applied colour: Tan, yellow, light and dark beni and blue. Lacquered sumi over an embossed pattern and gold powder. Some soil and expertly repaired wormage, otherwise very good condition. Signed Torii Kiyotomi hitsu.
Status: Sold
Tamura SADANOBU (Fl. c 1720s-1730s)
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The An artist who seems to have specialised in triptychs. Shows the actor Ichikawa Monnosuke I shielding his head with a large sedge hat (kasa). The middle sheet (naka) of a triptych with title: Hana shobu irotagai sannpukutsui, “A Triptych of Irises in Alternating Colours.”(Possibly following the colours irises come in: Blue, purple, white.) On the sleeves are the auspicious characters denoting long life. Published by Murataya Jirobe (Eiyudo), c mid 1720s.
Very good impression. Urushi beni-e with hand-applied colour: tan, blue and beni. Lacquered sumi over an embossed pattern and gold powder. Slight loss of the sumi, otherwise very good condition. Signed Tamura Sadanobu hitsu.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMASU II (Fl. c 1720s -1760)
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The onnagata actor Ichimura Takenojo IV standing and combing the hair of a fashionable young man played by Sanjo Kantaro II. Above, left, is the title printed in gold: Kamisuke, “Hair-combing.” These romantic scenes show the tenderness and love between a man and a woman. There is another version of this scene with the same actors by Okumura Toshinobu. Published by Igaya Kan’emon (Bunkido) c early 1730s.
Very good impression. Urushi beni-e with hand-applied colour: Lilac, beni and yellow. Lacquered sumi over an embossed pattern and gold powder with sprayed blue bands around title. Light soil and small expertly repaired wormhole, otherwise very good condition. Signed Torii Kiyomasu hitsu.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMASU II (Fl. c 1720s -1760)
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Shows the actor Sodesaki Miwano I as a proprietress of a house of assignation (kasha). He holds a puppet of the actor Ichikawa Monnosuke I dressed as a fashionable young man visiting the pleasure quarter holding a sedge hat to hide his face. Published by Igaya Kan’emon (Bunkido) c late 1720s.
Very good impression. Urushi beni-e with hand-applied colour: beni, yellow, lilac and pale green. Lacquered sumi over an embossed pattern and gold powder. Light soil and expertly repaired wormage, otherwise very good condition. Signed Torii Kiyomasu hitsu.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMASU II (Fl. c 1720s -1760)
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Shows a high-class courtesan emerging from a tea-house with slashed curtains. Possibly one sheet of a triptych. Published by Igaya Kan’emon (Bunkido) c mid 1720s.
Very good impression. Urushi beni-e with hand-applied colour: tan, light beni, light green and yellow. Lacquered sumi and gold powder (mostly lost). Light soil and expertly repaired wormage, otherwise good condition. Signed Torii Kiyomasu hitsu.
Status: Sold
Okumura TOSHINOBU (Fl. c 1717-1750)
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Shows a beauty whisking tea in front of an alcove. Published by Emiya Kichiemon c late 1720s.
Very good impression. Urushi with hand-applied tan colour. Lacquered sumi over an embossed pattern. Browned and some thinned areas, otherwise good condition. Signed Yamato gashi Okumura Toshinobu hitsu.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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A diptych showing the actor Otani Tomoemon V as the loyal servant Gakuzo (aka Inukawa Sosuke Yoshito, one of the eight Dog half-brothers), brush in hand, having just hung the decapitated head of the evil Aboshi on a tree and written beside it: Kore ha akuto Aboshi Samojiro nari. Aruiwa hizo tachi, “This is the villain Aboshi Samojiro… He [stole] a treasured sword [Murasame – the treasured sword of the Ashikaga family].” Shows a scene from an episode in Part III, volume 5 of the Satomi Hakkenden no uchi, “Tales of the Eight Dogs of the Satomi Clan.” The macabre tale, written by Kyokutei Bakin (1767-1848) in 98 chapters and 106 booklets, revolves around the eight offspring of a supernatural marriage between a princess and her father’s dog and their commitment to restore the fortunes of the samurai house of Satomi. Published by Tamaya Sosuke 1868. Very rare: Keyes in his dissertation on Yoshitoshi lists just the right sheet from an oban series, presumably the print in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, ART568220, and another impression of just the right sheet is owned by Tateyama City in Chiba Prefecture.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Kaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. (Keyes attributes this print to Yoshitoshi as he hadn’t seen the left sheet.)
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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Three New Year drummers; two with lion (shishi) masks. Sumi and colour on paper, lightly laid onto card. 24.2 x 36.2 cms; 9.5 x 14.25 inches.
In good condition. Unsigned but from a group, one of which bore full signature.
Status: Available
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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A fine original sumi drawing (hanshita-e) for an unpublished print for the set Tokaido gojusan tsui, “Fifty-three Parallels for the Tokaido Road.” The set was published by various publishers in 1845-6 and was a collaboration with Kunisada and Hiroshige. Sumi on thin paper. This is a design for the lower half of the oban print, the top half having the title and a panel with the name of the post-station. Shows Yamato Takeru no Mikoto. A legendary prince, son of the Emperor Keiko. Shown here with his retainers.
In extremely good condition. Provenance: Purchased from me in 21/11/1975. Rare.
Status: Available
Shibata ZESHIN (1807-1891)
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A fine original drawing in sumi and colour for the series Hana kurabe, “A Comparison of Flowers” published by Shugyokudo between c 1875 – 1890. The set of 120 prints was issued in groups of 12 enclosed in paper wrappers. This design shows a group of Japanese poppies. On thin paper laid onto Japanese paper, 7.5 x 10 in; 19 x 25.5 cms.
Status: Available
Shibata ZESHIN (1807-1891)
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A fine original drawing in sumi and colour for the series Hana kurabe, “A Comparison of Flowers” published by Shugyokudo between c 1875 – 1890. The set of 120 prints was issued in groups of 12 enclosed in paper wrappers. This design shows a group of daffodills. On thin paper laid onto Japanese paper, 7.5 x 10.5 in; 19 x 26.5 cms.
Status: Available
Shibata ZESHIN (1807-1891)
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A fine original drawing in sumi and colour for the series Hana kurabe, “A Comparison of Flowers” published by Shugyokudo between c 1875 – 1890. The set of 120 prints was issued in groups of 12 enclosed in paper wrappers. This design shows the entrance to a shrine with numerous ema hanging under cover and two figures entering. On thin paper laid onto Japanese paper, 7.25 x 9.75 in; 18.5 x 24.5 cms.
Status: Available
Shibata ZESHIN (1807-1891)
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A fine original drawing in sumi and colour for the series Hana kurabe, “A Comparison of Flowers” published by Shugyokudo between c 1875 – 1890. The set of 120 prints was issued in groups of 12 enclosed in paper wrappers. This design shows an unidentified plant with purple-black berries – possibly a variety of elderberry. On thin paper 7.25 x 10.5 in; 18.5 x 26.5 cms. Signed Zeshin and an indication for where the Shin seal should go. Sold together with the published print. Backed and with centre fold. Signed Zeshin and Shin seal.
Status: Available
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Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An excessively rare triptych: Onkyoku sekai awase, “Matching the World and Music,” showing 13 dramatic illustrations of the Joruri world ( these being the famous narrated stories ). All episodes are shown against a snowy backdrop. Published 1849-50 by Ibasen.
Fine impression and colour. Some nice oxidation at bottom and very minor soil. Very good condition. Signed Hiroshige giga, “drawn to amuse.”
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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‘Evening Snow at Uchikawa’, Uchikawa bosetsu from the early set Kanazawa hakkei, ‘Eight Views in Kanazawa’ published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, c 1835-6. This is an extremely rare and fine set and examples in good condition are very difficult to find. 31-syllable waka poem above. One of Hiroshige’s finest compositions.
Fine impression, colour and condition with large margins. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: sold
Isoda KORYUSAI (1735-1790)
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Manjiya uchi Manshiu, “Manshiu of the Manjiya [Brothel or House]” from a set: Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyo, “New Year Designs as Fresh as Young Leaves.” One of the great 18th century sets comprising at least 140 prints of consistent quality throughout. Shows the oiran with her two kamuro. Published in the late 1770s by Eijudo with some designs by Juzaburo.
Fine impression and colour. Slight creasing, otherwise very good condition. On heavy hosho. Signed Koryusai ga.
Status: Sold
Kitao MASANOBU (Santo KYODEN) (1761-1816)
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One double-oban design from the most sumptuous album ever produced: Yoshiwara keisei: Shin bijin awase jihitsu kagami, “A Mirror of New Yoshiwara Courtesans with Samples of Their Calligraphy.” Published by Tsutaya Juzaburo, 1784. Shows courtesans viewing calligraphic scrolls. Seven double-oban designs were published in album form, although the original intention was for a larger set. Signed on two sheets Kitao sensai Masanobu.
Fine impression and colour. Centre fold (as always), otherwise very good condition.
Status: Sold
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
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A triptych Furyu onna ryoushi, “Fashionable Fishing Women.” Shows beauties on the seashore collecting fish and loading them onto a boat for market. In the background, fishermen with nets. Published by Iwatoya Kisaburo (Eirindo), c 1817. The Japanese love seafood and, being surrounded by water, there is an abundance of fish and crustaceans as anyone who has visited the central fish market in Tokyo can attest to.
Fine impression. Very good colour. Small areas of expertly repaired wormholes, otherwise very good condition. Signed Eizan hitsu.
Status: Sold
Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)
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A triptych showing three courtesans from the Tamaya House: On first sheet Koyuki playing the kokyu; on the second Hanamurasaki playing the koto; and on the third Hanakazura playing the shamisen. Published c 1830.
Fine impression with excellent colour. Some expert edge restoration, otherwise very good condition with extra paper around.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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“Looking Weighed-down: The Appearance of a Waitress at Fukagawa in the Tempo Era” ( 1830 – 1844 ). From the set: Thirty-two Aspects of Women published by Tsunashima Kamekichi, 1888. The waitress is shown carrying a tray of rice, sashimi and beans.
Very fine impression and colour of the first edition. A mulberry fibre towards top edge, otherwise very fine condition with margins intact. ( These thread-like filaments of the tree sometimes survived the pulping process – either minute pieces of the outer or inner bark and are often seen. ) Signed Yoshitoshi ga.
Status: Available