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. 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…
Click here to view image full size. An original woodblock for printing the centre sheet of a triptych showing Ame no Tajikarao pulling the giant stone away from the Ama-no-Iwato cave where Amaterasu (the Sun Goddess) had ensconced herself thereby…
Click here to view image full size. A hosoban showing the actor Ichikawa Raizo II as Kanesashi Goro Katsuhide in the play Kawaranu hanasakae hachi no ki, “The Ever-Blooming Potted Tree.” Performed at the Nakamura-za Theatre in 11 Extremely rare:…
Click here to view image full size. Segawa Kikunojo III as the courtesan Kojoro of the Mikuni House (Mikuni Kojoro) and Arashi Sanpachi I as her elder brother Kujuro (Kojoro ani Kujuro) in the play Tomigaoka koi no yamabiraki by…
Click here to view image full size. A vertical oban triptych showing Onoe Kikugoro V as Okiku’s ghost, above, and Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Asayama Tessan from the play Sarayashiki kesho no sugatami, “Mansion of Plates” performed at the Kabuki-za…
Click here to view image full size. An hosoban kappazuri (coloured by stencils) print from a set: Gion mikoshi arai nerimono sugata, “Gion Festival Costume Parade.” The set was jointly designed by: Goshichi, Seikoku (Charakusai) and Toyokuni, as well as…
Click here to view image full size. A fascinating triptych: Edo sanshibai yakusha nigao seisha nishiki-e, “Brocade Print of True Copies of Actor Likenesses in the Three Theatres of Edo.” Shows all the actors appearing in the three theatres at…
Click here to view image full size. The actor Nakamura Shikan IV as Ishikawa Hachizaemon in the play Chuko musashi no abumi staged at the Nakamura-za Theatre in 4 From a set of at least 22 prints published by Gusokuya…
Click here to view image full size. An exceptional hosoban showing the actor Nakamura Tomijuro I in the role of a courtesan. Published c. 1771 and the influence of Harunobu can be seen. Probably the centre panel of a triptych.…
Click here to view image full size. A hosoban showing the actor Nakamura Sukegoro II as Sasano Sangobei (an otokodate – chivalrous commoner) in part two of the play Iro moyo aoyagi Soga, “Green Willow Soga of Erotic Design.” Performed…
Click here to view image full size. A vertical diptych showing the actor Onoe Kikugoro V in the role of Komamonoya Saijiro, “Saijiro of the haberdashery store,” fighting a giant serpent in the play Inaba Kozo ame no yobanashi performed…
Click here to view image full size. Shows Ichikawa Danzo IV as Shundo Jiroemon disguised as a beggar and Morita Kan’ya VIII as Takaichi Buemon in the Daianji Zutsumi scene from the play Katakiuchi tsuzure no nishiki, “The Vendetta in…
Click here to view image full size. In heavy rain before a giant waterwheel are two actors: On the right Ichimura Uzaemon XIII as the commoner Doroku confronting Ichikawa Kuzo III as Sanpei from the play Sarayashiki kesho no sugatami,…
Click here to view image full size. A concertina orihon consisting of 52 prints by the above artists. Various date seals to the early 1860s, the latest being 1865, which is presumably when the album was assembled. Includes the excellent…
Click here to view image full size. A concertina orihon consisting of 64 prints by the above artists. Various date seals to the early 1860s, the latest being 1865, which is presumably when the album was assembled. (Although the album…
Click here to view image full size. An uki-e, “perspective print” of a Kabuki theatre: Shinpan uki-e san shibai Kabuki kyogen no zu, “ Newly Published Uki-e Picture of Kabuki Plays from the Three Theatres.” The three theatres were: Nakamura-za,…
Click here to view image full size. The actor Ichikawa Sadanji as the monk Raigo Ajari at the Mii-dera temple from Kijutsu junishi no uchi, “Magic in the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac.” This design representing Rat. Raigo transforms into…
Click here to view image full size. Click here to view image full size. A set of 8 prints showing actors as firefighters: Edo no hana yoru no nigiwai, “Flowers of Edo, Excitement at Night.” It’s generally catalogued as having…
Click here to view image full size. A dai-oban print showing the actor Kawarazaki Gonjuro I (Ichikawa Danjuro IX) in the role of Hanakawado no Sukeroku, an otokodate (chivalrous commoner) in the play Sukeroku yukari no Edo zakura, “Sukeroku, the…
Click here to view image full size. A dai-oban print showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Minister Kibi in the play Kibi Daijin Shina monogatari, “Minister Kibi, Tale of China.” The play centres on the historical minister Kibi no…
Click here to view image full size. An outstanding primitive showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro II as Soga no Goro in a scene from Yanone, “The Arrow Sharpener.” One of the most popular of the Soga Brothers vendetta plays that…
Click here to view image full size. A fine primitive showing the actors Ogino Isaburo (above) and the onnagata actor Tsugawa Kamon below. Published c late 1720s by Emiya Kichiemon. Ex collection Dr E.F. (1970). Rare. Fine impression. Urushi…
Click here to view image full size. An early print showing the onnagata actor Kirinami Onoe (above) and Ichikawa Danjuro II, possibly in the play Yatsumune Taiheiki performed at the Nakamuraza Theatre, 11 If it is this performance, then it’s…
Click here to view image full size. An early print showing the actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu. He gained early recognition as a child actor. Published by Urokogata-ya hammoto, c mid 1730s. Ex collection Dr E.F. Rare. Fine impression. Urushi beni-e…
Click here to view image full size. An early print showing the actor Segawa Kikunojo as Oiso no Tora looking down at Kameya Jujiro as Soga no Juro Sukenari who is leaning on a shogi board (Japanese chess). The play…
Click here to view image full size. The actor Onoe Kikugoro V in the role of the evil Asao no Tsubone in a story by Murai Teikichi from a set Kodan isseki; yomikiri tsuika, “Storytelling Complete in One; More Stories.”…
Click here to view image full size. An hosoban showing a young actor in the role of a peddler of Chinese medicine, an Uiro, in a scene called Uiro-uri. This role is associated with the Danjuro line and Danjuro II…
Click here to view image full size. An hosoban showing the actors Ichikawa Danzo IV as Doi no Yataro (above) and Ichikawa Raizo II as Kojiro Masahira (below) in the play Kaomise Ama no Iwato, performed at the Nakamura-za theatre…
Click here to view image full size. A vertical triptych showing the actor Ichikawa Udanji I as the ghost of Sogo’s wife (Sogo tsuma no rei) carrying off Nakamura Kangoro XII as Yamazumi Goheita in the play Sakura Sogo den…
Click here to view image full size. Little is known of Buncho’s life. With Shunsho, he was the pre-eminent designer of actor hosoban producing them during the short period of 1766-1773. He also collaborated with Shunsho on the fine 3…