Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. A fine hanshita-e triptych drawing by Kuniyoshi showing the strong woman Kaneko Kugutsune ( also called O Kane or Omi no O Kane ). She is normally depicted – as here – holding down the sacred white temple horse with her geta. These appear to be lifelike dolls: There seems to have been a craze for such figures in the 1850s. Other materials used to make such figures and animals were shells, cane and flowers. Sumi and light colour, 14.5 x 30 in, 37 x 76.5 cms. Each sheet fully signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Unidentified publisher’s seal, c 1855. Some pentimenti. Laid down onto a larger sheet of paper. Light staining, otherwise good condition. Kuniyoshi appears to have liked this subject and designed a number of prints including a famous horizontal landscape in western style. Status: Sold

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. A fine hanshita-e triptych drawing by Kuniyoshi showing a general ( possibly Kato Kiyomasa ) on a horse far left and surrounded by his soldiers. He is viewing flotillas of boats laden with more troops. Sumi and light touches of red, 14.5 x 30 in, 37 x 76.5 cms. Each sheet fully signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga with censor seal pasted on for 9 The publisher’s seal Yamamotoya Heikichi and hand-stamped red Kiri seal on each sheet. Extensive pentimenti. Laid down onto a larger sheet of paper. Light staining, otherwise good condition. Status: Sold

Kawanabe KYOSAI (1831-1889)

 Click here to view image full size. An original drawing, sumi on thin paper, 7.25 x 5 in, 18 x 12.5 cms. The original design for the Master of Papier Mache from a Hundred Pictures by Kyosai published 1863-6. Shows Dharma dolls coming to life and terrifying their makers. The print illustrated in Kawanabe Kyosai, The Tokyo Shimbun, 1996, no. 122-5, p. 213. Good condition. Status: Sold

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

 Click here to view image full size. An original hanshita-e drawing showing actors in different roles; the one above as a warrior, and beneath as a commoner. Sumi and touches of red on thin paper. Image size 14 x 6 in, 35.5 x 15 cms. . For a series of designs contained within a hagoita ( wooden paddles used to play the New Year hanetsuki game ). Good condition. Status: Sold

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

 Click here to view image full size. An original hanshita-e drawing showing an actor with sword raised and voluminous red hair. Sumi and red on thin paper, image size 11.5 x 5.75 in, 30 x 14.5 cms. For a series of designs contained within a hagoita ( wooden paddles used to play the New Year hanetsuki game ). Numerous indications for the printer on the colours to be used. In good condition. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

 Click here to view image full size. An original hanshita-e drawing presumably showing Kintaro with a monkey, pheasant and dog. A lovely preparatory sketch in sumi and pink on thin paper, image size 13 x 6.25 in, 33 x 16 cms. For a series of designs contained within a hagoita ( wooden paddles used to play the New Year hanetsuki game ). In good condition. Status: Sold

Katsukawa SHUN’EI (1762-1819)

 Click here to view image full size. An original Shun’ei brush drawing showing the Soga brothers revenge on Suketsune in his tent. This appears to be a preliminary design for a print illustrated in Ukiyoe meihan, 500 Ukiyoe Masterpieces, no. 85, p. 39 but with the figures facing the other way. The print published by Nishimuraya Yohachi, c. 1798. On thin Japanese paper, 14.75 x 10.5 in, 37.5 x 26.5 cms. Fully signed Shun’ei ga. Sold “as is” with all imperfections. Drawings of this period are rare. Status: Sold

Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1787-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An original Hiroshige brush drawing of an aji ( also muroaji ), horse-mackerel; awabi, abalone, and two ginger roots. On thin Japanese paper, 9 x 6.75 in, 22.9 x 17 cms. Beautifully signed Hiroshige hitsu. Probably a small present for a friend. Ex collections Hayashi ( seal bottom right ) and Oeder. Very good condition. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size.  Click here to view image full size. An excessively rare original sketch-book with MS. Diary at the end recording the last part of a trip Hiroshige started April 2nd 1841 from Edo to Kofu, this covering Nov. 13th ? Nov. 22nd 1841. Sumi on paper vigorously drawn and annotated with names and memoranda in Hiroshige?s writing. 7.75 x 5 inches containing 38 pages, two blank, with inscription on cover: ?Memories of Travel?.In slip-case inscribed HIROSHIGE ( presumably the owner after Dr. J. Hutchinson ). Ex collections Mr Wilson Crewdson and then Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson FRCS ( vice-president Council of the Japan Society, London ). This diary is fully discussed and catalogued in The Colour-Prints of Hiroshige, Edward F. Strange, Cassell & Co. Ltd., 1925, pps 71-82 and 122-123 and illustrates two double pages. Contents are as follows: Page(s): 1. Title. Memories of Travel. 2. ( Blank ). 3. Taiko Iwa. Rock called Drum Rock. 4, 5. Mitake Michi, Gedo-no-hara, Koshu. Devil?s Plain on the way to Mount Mitake, Koshu or Kai Province. The rock on the summit of the mountain is called Katana nuki-ishi. ( 2-page. ) 6, 7. The view continued from No. 2 ( 2-page. ) 8, 9. Kurakake Iwa. Saddle Rock ( 2-page ). 10, 11. Zo-ga-hana. Cliff called Elephant Trunk ( 2-page. ) 12. Mitake Omon. Great Gate, Mitake.…

Katsukawa SHUNKO (1743-1812)

 Click here to view image full size. An original drawing showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro V in an unidentified role. Drawn c mid 1780s. Such drawings from this period are very rare. Indeed, any prior to the 1810s are rare. Ex collection Tanizaki Junichiro ( the major Japanese writer: Tade kuu mushi, “Some Prefer Nettles,” etc ). And sold by the Kabutoya Gallery, San Francisco, c 1976. Guaranteed by Suzuki Juzo of the National Diet Library. Laid around edges, 9.5 x 6.5 in; 24 x 16.5 cms. Sold as is with some wormage etc. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An extremely large and important drawing showing beauties on a restaurant verandah overlooking the Sumida river. A preparatory study for a painting which was either not executed or has been lost. Although an abbreviated version is illustrated in Ukiyoe Taikei, vol 11, no 67 which gives the location as the Kawaguchi-ro restaurant. Sumi and pentimenti on thin paper. 19 x 37 in., 48 x 94 cms. Status: Sold  Click here to view image full size.

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. A large and extremely important drawing. A detailed preparatory design for a well know painting. Shows a party beside a lake. This drawing also shows a back view of Hiroshige ( the seated figure with shaved head beneath the tree on the right ). Hiroshige is known to have shaved his head to become a Buddhist monk in 1856, so this study must date from that time. It’s interesting to compare with the finished painting which Hiroshige simplified, leaving out figures and the dog at bottom right. Sumi and pentimenti with annotations on thin paper. 40 x 17.5 in., 101 x 44 cms. The painting is illustrated in the “200th Anniversary of the Birth of Hiroshige” exhibition catalogue, Tokyo Odakyu Museum, 1996, no. 316, supervised by Prof. Kobayashi Tadashi. Status: Sold  Click here to view image full size.

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. A large and important preparatory drawing for a well know painting showing a full length beauty in a garden with autumn grasses. The finished painting is illustrated in Juzo Suzuki, Utagawa Hiroshige, 1970, no. 70 ( where it is dated to c.early 1850s ) and was exhibited in the “Masterworks of Ukiyo-e Paintings ” exhibition at the Itabashi Art Museum, 1989. Sumi and red under-drawing with pentimenti on thin paper. 34.5 x 11 in., 88 x 27.5 cms ( the finished painting measures 91 x 32.3 cms ). Status: Sold  Click here to view image full size.

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An original preparatory sketch for a design from the set: Fifty-three Paired Stations on the Tokaido Highway A joint publication with Kunisada and Kuniyoshi published c 1845. This being Eijiri ( Station 19 ) and shows the pine Hagoromo-no Matsu on which an angel left her feather coat. It was taken by a peasant and in order to retrieve it the angel married the peasant until such time as she could get it back and fly away. Fuji in the distance. Sumi on thin paper. 14 x 10 in., 36 x 25.5 cms. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An important large study for a well known painting. Shows a full length beauty on a bridge. The finished painting has a moon above and is illustrated in Ukiyo-e Nenkan, published 1973, p. 286. From the collection of Aoki Shinzaburo. Sumi and red under-drawing with pentimenti on thin paper. 22 x 18.25 in., 56 x 46.5 cms. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. A preparatory design for an unpublished ( ? ) triptych. Shows Genji ( ? ) watching figures on the bank of a river under a large willow tree. Other individuals in a boat. Some annotations for colour, etc. Sumi on thin paper. 14.25 x 30 in., 36 x 76 cms. Fully signed and sealed far right. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. A large and important preparatory study for a well known painting showing Murasaki Shikibu at Ishiyama Temple looking out to sea. The painting was in the Azabu Museum but was sold at Christies, NY, 27/10/1998, lot 110. It was illustrated in “Ukiyo-e Paintings in Japanese Collections, Azabu Museum, ” supervised by Kobayashi Tadashi, Kodansha, 1995. Sumi and extensive sumi wash with pentimenti on thin paper. 19.25 x 26 in., 49 x 67 cms. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An original preparatory drawing for a published print for the set: Kokon joruri zukushi, “Collected Stories Past and Present.” Published by Sanoki, 1849-50. Shows the Barrier-Guardian Sekimori Sekibei and the Spirit of the Cherry Tree. Illustrated in Tsuneo Tamba, The Art of Hiroshige, 1965, no. 457. Sumi on thin paper with touches of red and blue. 13 x 8.75 in., 33.5 x 22 cms. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An original drawing showing two beauties, one holding an umbrella, beside a river. This appears to be the first draft for the centre sheet of the famous snow scene: Beauties and Snow at the Sumida River, published by Marujin, 1848-9. Illustrated in Tsuneo Tamba, The Art of Hiroshige, 1965, no. 17. Sumi on thin paper. 14.5 x 10.5 in., 37 x 27 cms. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An original drawing showing a party coming over the summit of a ridge with hills in the distance. Most likely a design for one sheet of a triptych. ( It is very similar to the centre sheet of a triptych Bushu Sugita-no ume bayashi published by Sanoki, c 1847-53 and may be a preliminary sketch. ) Sumi on thin paper. 13 x 9.75 in., 33.5 x 25 cms. Fully signed ( twice ) bottom right. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An original preparatory drawing for a print. Possibly an unused design for the set: Fifty-three Paired Stations on the Tokaido Highway. ( There is another study for the set in the collection. ) A joint set together with Kunisada and Kuniyoshi published c 1845. Shows porters and below two female travellers. Sumi and pentimenti on thin paper. 9.5 x 9.75 in., 24.5 x 25 cms. Fully signed Hiroshige hitsu. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. A large original drawing showing beauties in a boat. The river flowing away to mountains in the distance. Two other boats in background. Three small studies at top. Sumi and light red under-drawing with pentimenti on thin paper. 26 x 19 in., 66 x 47 cms. Probably a preliminary study for a painting. Indication for Hiroshige’s signature and seal at left. Status: Sold