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 beauty, Ureshi so, “The Contented Type” from a set Imayo bijin junikei, “Twelve Views of Modern Beauties.” Above on a handscroll is a view of Fuji from Takanawa. She bites onto a tissue which has erotic connotations. Published c 1822-25 by Izumiya Ichibei. Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Available Price: £2,800
Click here to view image full size. Two beauties in front of a mirror, Ada ni torikumite, “Grudge Match” from a set Ukiyo shiju hatte, “Forty-eight Habits of the Floating World.” This was a popular title for sets of prints – especially during the next thirty years. The sub-titles are quite obtuse, whereas in later series – for example Kuniyoshi’s set of c 1846 – the meanings are self-evident. A fine double okubi-e set published by Matsumura Tatsuemon, c 1821-22. Eisen was a prolific and repetitive artist but produced some fine landscapes and okubi-e sets. Rare. Fine impression. Slight fading and minor soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Available Price: £4,800
Click here to view image full size. Urawa Shuku Asamayama enbo, “Urawa Station, Distant View of Mount Asama” from Kisokaido rokujukyutsugi no uchi, “Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido.” The set was published by Hoeido and Kinjudo, 1834-1842. The first 23 (of 70) prints were designed by Eisen, the rest by Hiroshige. In the distance can be seen a smoking Mount Asama. Although there is regular volcanic activity, the last bad eruption was in 1783. Very good impression of the first edition with signature. (This was removed on later states.) Very good colour. Slight centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A vertical diptych showing a carp ascending a waterfall. A notoriously difficult design to find without browning and there are many late impressions. Very good impression with careful gradation. Only minimal toning of paper. Minor creasing otherwise good colour and condition. Signed Keisai hitsu with large Keisai seal. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Decorative paper from a series Tosei kobutsu hakkei, “Eight Favourite Things in the Modern World.” The set compares beauties with their favourite “things.” In this case paper, shown top left, while other designs from the set compare beauties to dolls, playing cards, the theatre, kimono, etc. Shows a Yoshiwara courtesan holding a bundle of folded tissue. She has sasabeni lips: the lower lip painted with sasa from the bamboo plant, and the upper lip using beni from the safflower. Published by Senichi (Izumiya Ichibei), c 1823. Fine impression. Slight fading and minor soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold