Rare Edo period Octaptych (divided into eight sections) Original Japanese engraved woodblock prints by Tachibana Yasukuni for’Ehon eibutsu sen’ (Picture Book) Each print approx 23.9 × 18.8 cm (9 7/16 × 7 3/8 in) x 4/ Total length mounted approx 170 cms/ 66 inches. Acquired in Tokyo C 1910 by the previous owner, part of a collection of Asian art formed during his travels in Japan between 1882 and 1920. Note the wing of the Crane extending out of the print on the 2nd photo is to be matched with the 4th illustration on the 1st photo. Beautiful monochrome illustrations using black water based ink (Sumizuri-e) printed on extra fine hand made Gampi paper created using raw plant materials. (This has become extremely delicate over the past 200 + years) The seventeenth-century English writer and diarist John Evelyn wrote about Japanese paper in his diary of 22 June 1664. Among the collection there were some papers, which he described as: a sort of paper very broad, thin, and fine, like parchment, of an amber yellow, exceedingly glorious and pretty to look on. Signs of wear commensurate with Antique, worming here and there, tanning to pages. If mounted correctly along the black ink border most if not all of the worming won’t be seen. Alternatively these can be patched from behind. The Smithsonian in Washington, the world’s largest museum and research complex, has a few copies of’Ehon Noyana Gusa’ by the same Artist on display which are in similar condition. Ehon eibutsu sen 1780 is lesser known in comparison. The item “Original Antique Japanese Woodblock Print Tachibana Yasukuni 1700’s Sumizuri-e” is in sale since Thursday, July 2, 2020. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian/Oriental Antiques\Japanese\Prints”. The seller is “vintage-and-antique” and is located in Glasgow. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Region of Origin: Japanese
- Product: Print
- Age: 1800-1849
- Primary Material: Paper
- Sub-Type: Ehon eibutsu sen 1779
- Original/Repro: Antique Original