Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare aiban print showing two kochi , bartail flatheads, (Platycephalus indicus) and an abalone, sea-ear, (Haliotus tuberculate). From a set of eight prints of various fish published c. late 1830s. Another impression is illustrated in Japanese Prints IV – Hiroshige and the Utagawa School, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, 1984, no. 45, p. 35.   Fine impression and colour. Slight soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige   Status: Sold  

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

 Click here to view image full size. Moon from a set Furyu settsugekka, “A Fashionable Snow, Moon, Flower.” An uncut fan print showing the actor Iwai Kumesaburo III as Shirai Gonpachi. Kumesaburo last played this role in the play Kakitsubata tamuke no harakawado performed at the Kawarasaki-za theatre in 3 Published by Kojima Jubei (who specialised in fans) in 3   Very fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

 Click here to view image full size. An exceedingly rare fan print showing a bust portrait of Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Soga no Goro wearing the iconic kuruma bun wig. This famous story has many versions but basically it tells how Kawazu Sukeyasu was murdered by his cousin Kudo Suketsune. Sukeyasu left two sons and his widow remarried a man called Soga. He adopted the two children and they waited patiently for an opportunity to kill Suketsune which came when he was hunting near Mt. Fuji. They killed him but were themselves slain in the ensuing battle. Published c.1827 by Maru-Mata, a publisher who seems to have only produced fan prints for a few years. Possibly Kunisada’s finest actor design in this format. A design I have never seen and probably unique.   Very good impression. Good colour. Dismounted from a fan and sold “as is” with all imperfections. Signed Kunisada ga.   Status: Sold  

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print: Yoshiwara Naka-no-cho sakura doki, “Cherry Blossom at Naka-no-cho in the Yoshiwara.” Published 7 Exceptionally rare: One other trimmed impression is illustrated in Hiroshige Fan Prints, Rupert Faulkner, Unsodo, 2010, no. 55, p. 45.   Fine impression and colour. Extremely good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.   Status: Sold  

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print: Ochanomizu no seiran, “Fine Weather but Windy.” From a set Edo hakkei, “Eight Views of Edo.” Published 1847-8 by Ibaya Senzaburo (who specialised in fans). Shows two beauties caught on a blustery day to the north of the Kanda River, the aqueduct lower left and Mt. Fuji in the distance. Exceptionally rare: The V & A museum has a complete (trimmed) set, see Rupert Faulkner, Hiroshige Fan Prints, 2001, nos. 23-30 (this being no. 25). And another impression is illustrated in Ukiyo-e Art, number eighteen, Memorial Exhibition of Hiroshige, 1968, no. 3. These appear to be the only other impressions known.   Fine impression. Very good colour. Slight centre fold and soil, but generally very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa SADAHIDE (1807-1873)

Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print showing a bust portrait of a courtesan. Shin Yoshiwara from a set Toto meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Eastern Capital.” The original Yoshiwara district was burned down in the great fire of Meireki in 1657 and rebuilt in the new location north of Asakusa.   Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Sadahide ga.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa KUNIMARU (1794-1829)

Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print showing a beauty looking into a lacquered hand mirror which she has withdrawn from a lacquered cabinet. Kunimaru produced some exceptional fans, of which this is one. However, his work in other fields is not noteworthy and it does pose the question if there were two artists with the same name ? Published 1827. Of particular interest is the design on the under-garment she is holding which has a Dutch motif of cherubs. Rare.     Very fine impression with strong burnishing on the mirror case, cabinet and her hair. Fine colour. Small repaired binding holes, otherwise very good condition. Signed Kunimaru hitsu.     Status: Sold    

Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print from a set of views of Ise: Ise meisho, Asakumayama toge no chamise, “Teahouses on the Mount Asakuma Pass, Famous Places of Ise Province.” Hiroshige used this same view about a decade later for no.7 from the set The Sixty-odd Provinces. He cleverly uses the cliff sides to wrap around the uchiwa-e shape. Published c.1840. Extremely rare: This actual impression illustrated in Hiroshige no uchiwa-e, Unsodo, 2010, p.78, pl.108. Ex collection Maroni with seal at bottom. (His collection was sold at public auction at Kende Galleries, N.Y. 1947-9.)     Fine impression and colour. Centre fold (as often), otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.     Status: Sold

Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

Click here to view image full size. Kami, crab (Charybois) and saba, mackerel (Scomber Japonicus) together with two flowers of morning glory. Poem by Shichichintei. This is the first edition (Kruml 19a). From the second series of fish published by Yamasho c. 1840-42. Unidentified collector’s seal bottom right corner.     Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.     Status: Sold    

Utagawa SADAHIDE (1807-1873)

Click here to view image full size. An aizuri fan print. Shows two travellers admiring the view of the Tama River and Mt. Koya in Kii Province. Published c 1849. Sadahide produced a considerable number of fan prints and it seems to have been a speciality of his. Rare.    Very good impression and colour. Minor edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Uncut. Signed Gountei Sadahide ga.    Status: Sold

Utagawa SADAHIDE (1807-1873)

Click here to view image full size. An aizuri fan print. Shows travellers arriving at Inba Marsh in Shimosa Province. This is now an important wetland habitat for wild birds. Published c 1849. Sadahide produced a considerable number of fan prints and it seems to have been a speciality of his. Rare.    Very good impression and colour. Minor edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Uncut. Signed Gountei Sadahide ga.    Status: Sold

Utagawa KUNIMARU (1794-1829)

 Click here to view image full size. An uchiwa-e (fan print) showing summer flowers: hydrangea, peony, iris, chrysanthemum, morning glory, etc against a yellow ground. Of the utmost rarity: possibly the only recorded example. Published by Ibaya Senzaburo with date seal Bunsei 10 (1827). Ex Werner Schindler collection and illustrated in Masterpieces of ukiyo-e prints from the Schindler collection, Kondo/Suzuki, Tokyo 1985, pl. 165, p. 140.   Fine impression; very good colour and condition. Signed Kunimaru hitsu.   Status: Sold  

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. A shishi cub being taught to scale a vertical cliff. ( Shishi: ‘Chinese Lion’ [ Ch.: Shi-tzu ]. ) it was said that the shishi cast its young from a high rock to test whether it could scale the rock face in which case it became the perfect beast. Published by Sanoki, c 1839-40. Extremely rare: one other impression illustrated in The Art of Hiroshige, Tsuneo Tamba, no.410. Fine impression and colour. Small areas of expert restoration. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold

Utagawa KUNISADA (1785-1865)

 Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print showing the actor Bando Takesaburo I in the role of the Sumo wrestler Shirafuji Genta from a set: Mitate gonin otoko go-hiiki omozashi, An Imaginary Five Commoners.” Published by Yama-Ta, 2ic   Superb impression with mica added to sky and burnishing. Superb colour and condition: From a group of such fans that are as the day they were first printed and must have been put together by a fan collector. Signed Toyokuni ga.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa KUNISADA (1785-1865)

 Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print showing the actor Bando Shuka I: “Snow” from a Furyu settsugekka set of Snow, Moon , Flowers. Published by Kojima Jubei (who specialised in fans) in 3   Superb impression with mica added to sky. Superb colour and condition: From a group of such fans that are as the day they were first printed and must have been put together by a fan collector. Signed Toyokuni ga.   Status: Sold  

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. Ai or ayu, river trout, Plecoglossus altivelis. Poem by Haruzono Shizuo. From the first set of fish prints published by Eijudo, c 1832-4. This first series was issued privately for a poetry group ( probably the Shingyoku Circle ) with judges’ names and extra poems. These prints are of the utmost rarity as probably only enough for the Circle were printed and they never come onto the market. Due to their popularity this first series was published commercially and a second set was commissioned. The most sought after print in the series and probably the first to be designed.   Very good impression, colour and condition. Full size with with no centre fold. Signed Hiroshige hitsu.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)

Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print showing a geisha adjusting her hair pin set against a snowy landscape. Fukagawa Iyo setsu, “Time in Fukugawa, Iyo Province.” Published 3/1855 by Iseba Magobei.   Fine impression and colour with splashed gofun to represent falling snow. Small expertly repaired wormhole, otherwise very good condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa SADAHIDE (1807-1879)

Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print Gosekku no uchi, kugatu, tsuki machi, “Five Festivals, Ninth Month, Moon Viewing.” Viewing the full moon in the eighth and ninth months was a popular activity passed down from the aristocracy in Heian times; especially where the moon’s reflection could be seen in water. One such party is seen here where a member vainly attempts to catch a catfish with a gourd: A hopeless task with such an unsuitable utensil. This is based on a Zen riddle posed by Ashikaga Yoshimochi (1386-1428) on how to catch a catfish with a gourd, which inspired the 15th century artist Josetsu to paint the subject with accompanying poems on the conundrum by Zen monks. Published by Iseya Ichiemon, 1835.   Fine impression and colour. Two small expertly repaired wormholes, otherwise very good condition. Signed Sadahide ga.   Status: Sold  

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. A half- block print showing a small bird (possibly a bush warbler) and plum blossom. . Published by Kawasho (Kawaguchi Shozo) c. mid 1830s. Half-blocks were printed two-to-a-sheet and divided, either vertically or horizontally.   Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga with Utagawa seal.   Status: Sold  

Anonymous (c. 1810)

 Click here to view image full size. An uncut ukie fan print, Edo meisho Eitaibashi, “Eitai Bridge, Edo.” Published by Ibaya Sensaburo, c. early 1800s. Possibly by Utagawa Kunimitsu or Utagawa Kunitora and quite possibly the only recorded impression.   Very good impression and colour. Slight corner soil, otherwise good condition.   Status: Sold  

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. A half-block print showing a sparrow and iris. Published by Kawasho (Kawaguchi Shozo) c. mid 1830s. Half-blocks were printed two-to-a-sheet and divided, either vertically or horizontally.   Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga with Utagawa seal.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)

Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in the role of Hanakawado no Sukeroku from a set: Mitate gonin otoko go-hiiki omoizashi, “A Parody of the Five Chivalrous Commoners, a Cup of Sake from their Fans.” Shows the actor holding a number of pipes; a shakuhachi protruding from his back. Published by Yama-Ta, 2ic     Extremely fine impression and colour. Minimal soil at bottom, otherwise fine condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.     Status: Sold    

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)

Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print showing the actor Sawamura Chojuro V as Ono no Tofu (aka Ono no Michikaze) in the play Ono no Tofu aoyagi suzuri performed at the Ichimura-za Theatre, 3 Shows the character holding a large umbrella. Published by Ibaya Senzaburo, 1850 (who seems to have specialised in fans).     Extremely fine impression and colour with extensive burnishing. Minimal soil at bottom, otherwise fine condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.     Status: Sold    

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print from a series: Koumei matsu tsukushi, “ Famous Kinds of Pine.” A euphemism for young beauties. One here shown holding a cage for fireflies being caught by children in the background. Published by Maruya Jinpachi, 4   Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Kuniyoshi ga.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print. Moon from a setsugekka set of famous views of Edo. Shows the interior of a teahouse. Published 1849-53 by Ibaya Sensaburo.     Very good impression and colour. Restored centre bottom and other minor imperfections, but otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. Very rare: Seemingly only two other impressions extant.     Status: Sold    

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)

Click here to view image full size. An uncut fan print, Ryogokubashi natsu no kei, “View of Ryogoku Bridge in the Summer” from a set Hana no Edo go-ohashi, “Five Major Bridges of Edo.” Shows a beauty on the bridge with fireworks exploding above. Fireworks became so popular in the summer that the authorities had to limit them to the river. Published by Kojimaya Jubei !843-46.     Fine impression and colour. Minor soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Kochoro Kunisada ga.     Status: Sold    

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

Click here to view image full size. An uchiwa-e showing Sawamura Gennosuke II as Ushiwakamaru and Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Benkei battling on Gojo Bridge. In fact, this shows a dance with title Soga matsuri musashi no surimono from a play performed at the Kawarasaki-za Theatre, 5 The dance is today called Hashi Benkei, “Benkei on the Bridge.” The story relates how Benkei, of Herculean strength, was subdued by the young Onzoshi Ushiwaka Maru (Yoshitsune) on Gojo Bridge. Benkei was wandered around Kyoto with the intention of relieving 1000 samurai of their swords. One night, with one more sword to go, he saw Yoshitsune playing a flute and wearing a golden sword at the Gojotenjin Shrine. They agreed to fight on Gojo Bridge in southern Kyoto. However, Yoshitsune was too agile for Benkei and had been educated in the secrets of fighting by the tengu. Following Yoshitsune’s victory Benkei became Yoshitsune’s retainer. Published by Ibaya Senzaburo . Rare: Possibly unique.   Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Gototei Kunisada ga.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

Click here to view image full size. A tanzaku showing a rooster and hydrangea. Published by Kawaguchi Shozo, c. 1830s. Another impression is illustrated in Four Hundred Ukiyoe Woodblock Prints From The Museum Of Art, Rhode Island School Of Design, 1990, no. 121, p. 54. Hiroshige is best known for his landscapes, but he produced almost as many bird and flower prints.    Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige hitsu.    Status: Sold