MORNING GLORY AND BAMBOO (Lot 00748)

N.1 uchiwa-e woodblock print
Period: late 19th century
Condition: good
Size: 24,5 x 23 cm

SOLD

Description

Fine woodblock print of the uchiwa-e (団扇絵) type, that is produced for the decoration of a bamboo uchiwa (団扇) fan, depicting morning glory flowers (朝顔) and a stream of water flowing from a bamboo conduit. The work, made at the end of the 19th century, is signed [Toshu] Shogetsu (東洲勝月), pseudonym of the artist Kojima Katsumi (小島勝美).

The uchiwa fan is one of the most popular accessories of Japanese women since the 6th century and, born as an object of daily use, it soon became also a small work of art to be carried as a manifestation of the mood as well as of good taste.

The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙) is taken from what was supposed to be the catalogue of a shop, as we infer from the binding holes on the right, and despite the obvious signs of aging is in overall good condition.