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. An uncut fan print, Funa Benkei, “Benkei in a Boat.” Shows Yoshitsune’s boat fleeing from Kyoto and his brother Minamoto no Yorimoto. The boat encounters the ghosts of the slain Heike clan who…
Click here to view image full size. An original double-sided wood-block showing on one side the busts of three wrestlers with a title cartouche Ozumo tozai kurabe, “A Sumo Contest Between East and West.” On the other side is a…
Click here to view image full size. The Lumberyard, Fukagawa, from Meisho Edo hyakkei, “The Hundred Views of Famous Places in Edo.” Shows snow falling on the timber yards lining a river. An umbrella in the foreground is inscribed Uo,…
Click here to view image full size. Otoyo no Kata from Zen-aku sanjuroku bijin, “Thirty-six Good and Evil Beauties.” The set published in 1876 by Morimoto Janzaburo. Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Toyohara Kunichika hitsu. Status: Sold…
Click here to view image full size. Akasaka kiribatake uchu sekikei, “Evening View of the Paulownia Grove at Akasaka in the Rain.” The replacement print for the Meisho Edo hyakkei “The Hundred Views of Famous Places in Edo” after 1858…
Click here to view image full size. Azuma no Mori no koji “ The Old Story of Azuma” from a set Toto kyuseki tsukushi, “Old Edo Stories, Illustrated.” Exceptionally rare: Four other designs from the set came up at the…
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare diptych, Shoki-san jaki ni sokko, “Shoki-San, Quick-Acting Medicine to Remove Evil Spirits.” Images of Shoki were used to ward off evil spirits and illness, especially during the Boys’ Festival. Published…
Click here to view image full size. Hida. Kago-watashi, “The Basket Ferry, Hida Province” from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces.” The set published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 ( this being 1853 ).…
Click here to view image full size. Flood from a series Seiu kandankei, “A Barometer of Emotions.” Shows the actor Nakamura Shikan IV as Abe Bungo no Kami riding through rough waves. A fine set published by Okura Magobei, 1876.…
Click here to view image full size. A distant view of Mount Daisen [ Oyama ] in Hoki Province. One of the best designs from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces.” The set published by Koshimuraya…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing the exorcism of the evil fox of Princess Osakabe by Miyamoto Musashi. The story relates how Musashi is the only warrior brave enough to enter Himeji castle which is haunted…
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing a still life of fish and utensils from a fine and rare set Toto meisho awase, “Famous Attractions of the Eastern Capital.” The series title in a cartouche in the…
Click here to view image full size. A surimono, Kinsei, “Metal” from Gobantsuzuki, “A Set of Five” surimono based on the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Shows a woman polishing a metal mirror. Published c. mid-1820s. The…
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. …
Click here to view image full size. Nitta Tadatsune encountering the goddess of Mount Fuji and her dragon in a cavern with numerous stalactites and a fast flowing river and waterfall. Published by Tsuji-ya Yasubei c 1844. Robinson T143. Very…
Click here to view image full size. A snow scene: Imadobashi Matsuchiyama, “Imado Bridge and Matsuchi Hill.” From Toto sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of the Eastern [ Edo ] Capital.” The set published by Ai-To between 1861 and 1862 ( this…
Click here to view image full size. A vertical oban diptych, Fujigawa no setchu, “The Fuji River in Winter.” Hiroshige records in his diaries that he commenced on a journey westwards from Edo on the fourth month Tempo…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing Prince Genji (far right) on a stone terrace looking out at Suma Beach, Akashi, thronged with visitors enjoying themselves. Two of his party look as though they are going to…
Click here to view image full size. Heavy snow, Yushima Tenjin, “Yushima Tenjin Shrine.” From Toto sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of the Eastern [ Edo ] Capital.” The set published by Ai-To between 1861 and 1862 ( this being 9/1862 ).…
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…
Click here to view image full size. A rare diptych, Kansho Tempaizan mangan. This famous tale (with different versions) is the basis for the play Sugawara denju tenarai kagami, “Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy” which was performed at the…
Click here to view image full size. Kasumigaseki setchu, “Kasumigaseki in Snow” from Toto sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of the Eastern [ Edo ] Capital.” The set published by Ai-To between 1861 and 1862 ( this being 6/1862 ). Shows a…
Click here to view image full size. Narukami Shonin, a wicked priest, from the play Narukami. One of a set Toyokuni kigo kijutsu kurabe, “A Contest of Magic Scenes by Toyokuni.” The series published by Hiranoya Shinzo, 1862. The set…
Click here to view image full size. Nakazu Mitsumata, “Mitsumata Middle Strand.” Shows the charring of a boat to preserve it on the eight-acre Nakazu Island. In the background Tsukudajima and Eitaibashi. From Toto sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of the Eastern…
Click here to view image full size. The Empress Jingo Kogo, sumptuously attired, sitting on a rock with two Imperial Jewels above her. She is supposed to have invaded Korea although there is some debate about this. From a set…
Click here to view image full size. Choko and Cho-Un fighting on a hillside from a set Tsuzoku Sangokushi yeiyu no ichi-nin, “Heroes of the Popular History of the Three Kingdoms, One by One.” Published by Joshuya Kinzo, c. 1836.…
Click here to view image full size. Kaidomaru felling a tengu during practise with wooden swords from a set Honcho kendo ryaku den, “Abridged Stories of our Country’s Swordsmanship.” The series published by Kadzusa-ya Iwazo, c. 1845-6. Very fine…
Click here to view image full size. An early triptych showing Shutendoji’s palace on Mount Oyeyama, Oyeyama Shotendoji shuzui no zu. Raiko (Minamoto no Yorimitsu) is charged by the Emperor Murakami with killing the evil Shutendoji who terrorizes the neighbourhood.…
Click here to view image full size. Nihonbashi yukibare, “The Nihon Bridge, Clear Weather after Snow.” From Meisho Edo hyakkei, the “One Hundred Views of Edo.” The set published between 1856 and 1858 (this being 1856) by Uoya Eikichi. The…
Click here to view image full size. Shomyoji-no bansho, “Vesper Bells at the Shomyoji Temple” from the rare early set Kanazawa hakkei, “Eight Views of Kanazawa.” The temple was built in 1258 by Hojo Sanetoki; the environs are seen on…