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. The Kegon Waterfall from the set: Celebrated Views in the Nikko Mountains published by Yamamoto, c 1844. The set obviously inspired by Hokusai’s earlier waterfall set of eight prints, but impressions are rarer indicating it may not have been so popular. Very good impression and colour. Slight soil around edges and thinned area in top margin. Signed Keisai Eisen utsusu. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. ‘Evening Snow at Uchikawa’, Uchikawa bosetsu from the early set Kanazawa hakkei, ‘Eight Views in Kanazawa’ published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, c 1835-6. This is an extremely rare and fine set and examples in good condition are very difficult to find. 31-syllable waka poem above. One of Hiroshige’s finest compositions. Fine impression, colour and condition with large margins. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: sold
Click here to view image full size. Early morning snow on Nihonbashi. The first design from Kisokaido rokujukyu-tsugi, “The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kiso Highway” published c1836 by Takeuchi and Hoeido. The extremely rare first edition with rising sun, publisher’s name on umbrella and signature: There are at least three later states of this design. Superb impression and colour. One very small backed wormhole, otherwise very fine condition with extra large margins and complete seal at left. Signed Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. The Ina River Bridge, Nojiri from the series Kisokaido rokujukyu-tsugi, “The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kiso Highway”, published c.1836 by Takeuchi and Hoeido. Extremely rare first state of first edition of this fine design: Only the earliest edition has the geese above and beneath the bridge, the extra peaks in the same area and to the far top left. Also the signature is only found on earliest state. See Lane, Images from the Floating World, no.194 (A-B), p.190. Very good impression and colour. Very slight centrefold otherwise good condition. Signed Keisai ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Mariko, Station 21, from the Bijin Tokaido which compares beauties to the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. This Station was famous for tororojiru, a dish of yams and white bean paste. An inn behind is advertising this meal.The set was published by Tsutaya, c early 1830s but only 40 designs are known as the government considered them a little risqué. The set was reissued without the Station numbers and censor seal for 1846. Fine impression and colour. Nice oxidation. Very good condition. Full size. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A high-ranking courtesan ( oiran ) looking over her shoulder. From a set of six prints: Bijin kaichu kagami – Jisei rokkassen: Ariwara no Narihira, “ A Pocket Mirror of Beauties – Six Immortal Poets of the Era: Ariwara no Narihira.” The set compares the beauties to the six “immortal” waka poets of the 9th/10th centuries. The maple leaves on the oiran’s collar identify the subject as compared to the poet Ariwara no Narihira ( 825-880 A.D. ). The set published by Senichi, c 1826-28. Fine early impression. Fine colour. Very slight soil and trimming bottom right, otherwise fine condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. An amorous couple on a balcony with a large full moon. One of the three best designs from a set of twelve prints: Keisei higo, “Secret Words of a Courtesan” published c 1822-25. Although the set comes under the shunga heading, each print is an abuna-e design, without any graphic detail. Fine composition. Fine impression and colour. Laid onto board from the original album. Small wormage and slight centre fold ( as usual ), otherwise good condition. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Shiratama of the Sanomatsuya House in the Shin Yoshiwara seated looking into a mirror. Episode Sekidera from a Seven Komachi set: Shin Yoshiwara yugimi nana Komachi. The set based on the seven episodes in the life of the famous 9th century poetess Ono no Komachi. Published by Tsuta-ya, c 1830. Very good impression of the first state. Superb, unfaded colour. Fine condition; full size. Signed Kei Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Efuku of the Owariya House in the Shin Yoshiwara seated at a low desk and holding a toothpick. Episode Kiyomidzu from a Seven Komachi set: Shin Yoshiwara yugimi nana Komachi. The set based on the seven episodes in the life of the famous 9th century poetess Ono no Komachi. Published by Tsuta-ya, c 1830. Very good impression of the first state. Superb, unfaded colour. Fine condition; full size. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Yoshiwara from the set: “Bijin Tokaido” comparing beauties to the 53 Stations. Published by Tsutaya c 1830’s. A fine design. Very fine impression, colour and, apart from minor trimming, fine condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Nanakoshi of Sano Matsu-ya. Station Kusatsu from a series parodying Yoshiwara courtesans with the 53 Stations of the Tokaido; the set seen as a sugoroku game, the winner gaining the lover. The set published by Tsutaya Kichizo, c late 1830s. Fine impression and colour. Small stain lower left corner and minor marks, but otherwise very good condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A triptych entitled Fuzoku shi-nho-ko sho, “The Customs of Different Classes, Samurai, Farmers, Artisans and Tradesmen”. Published by Kawaguchiya Uhei c.1820s. Very good impression, perfect colour. Original album backing. Fine condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A high-ranking courtesan ( oiran ) looking over her shoulder. From a set of six prints: Bijin kaichu kagami – Jisei rokkassen: Ariwara no Narihira, “ A Pocket Mirror of Beauties – Six Immortal Poets of the Era: Ariwara no Narihira.” The set compares the beauties to the six “immortal” waka poets of the 9th/10th centuries. The maple leaves on the oiran’s collar identify the subject as compared to the poet Ariwara no Narihira ( 825-880 A.D. ). The set published by Senichi, c 1826-28. Fine early impression. Fine colour. Very slight soil, otherwise fine condition. Full size. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Three koban surimono-style prints from a set Imayo sanjurokkasen, “Thirty-six Selected Pictures.” Published c late 1820s. Fine impressions, colour and condition. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing three courtesans from the Tamaya House: On first sheet Koyuki playing the kokyu; on the second Hanamurasaki playing the koto; and on the third Hanakazura playing the shamisen. Published c 1830. Fine impression with excellent colour. Some expert edge restoration, otherwise very good condition with extra paper around. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Three volumes complete. Koi murasaki, “Purple Love”. Original covers and title slips. Published circa early 1840s. Very fine impressions and colour, one wormhole on one volume, otherwise very good condition throughout. Status: Sold Click here to view image full size. Click here to view image full size.
Click here to view image full size. A fine original shita-e for the Bijin Tokaido which compares beauties to the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido, this being Minakuchi, famous for kampyo, dried gourd shavings. The set was published by Tsutaya, c early 1830s but only 40 designs are known as the government considered them a little risqué. ( The reason this design has survived. ) The set was reissued without the Station numbers and censor seal for 1846. I have not seen another such Eisen drawing. Extremely rare. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. An amorous couple prior to coitus. One of the three best designs from a set of twelve prints: Keisei higo, “Secret Words of a Courtesan” published c 1822-25. Although the set comes under the shunga heading, each print is an abuna-e design, without any graphic detail. Fine composition. Fine impression and colour. Laid onto board from the original album. Small wormage and slight centre fold ( as usual ), otherwise good condition. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Hanaoka of the Sanomatsuya House in the Shin Yoshiwara looking out at the rain and holding a poem slip. Episode Amagoi from a Seven Komachi set: Shin Yoshiwara yugimi nana Komachi. The set based on the seven episodes in the life of the famous 9th century poetess Ono no Komachi. Published by Tsuta-ya, c 1830. Very good impression. This is the first state with gradation in the sky and at the end of Hanaoka’s robe. Superb, unfaded colour. Fine condition; full size. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Oiso from the set: “Bijin Tokaido” comparing beauties to the 53 Stations. Published by Tsutaya c 1830’s. The best design from the set. Very fine impression, colour and, apart from minor trimming, fine condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. Okitsu from the set: “Bijin Tokaido” comparing beauties to the 53 Stations. Published by Tsutaya c 1830’s. A fine design. Very fine impression, colour and, apart from minor trimming, fine condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size. A kakemono-e showing a promenading beauty. Fine impression. Almost perfect colour and condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold