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Japanese Antiques

Tsuchiya Koitsu Woodblock Print, Japan, Benkei Bridge, Shin Hanga Style, Listed Artist

Tsuchiya Koitsu Woodblock Print, Japan, Benkei Bridge, Shin Hanga Style, Listed Artist
Photo Credit: alembix

Tsuchiya Koitsu Woodblock Print, Japan, Benkei Bridge, Shin hanga Style, Listed Artist

Buy It Now Price: $298 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a Japanese woodblock print in the “shin hanga” style.  Shin hanga translates from the Japanese as “new woodblock prints” and are descendents of the traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints of the Edo and Meiji eras.

-Shin hanga was an early to mid 20th century Japanese print movement that combined traditional Japanese themes with groundbreaking Western artistic understanding of light and perspective.  It was an export-oriented artistic movement that was wildly popular in the West in the period between World War I and World War II.  Even today, shin hanga prints possess an attractive, unmistakably modern quality.

-This particular shin hanga print is titled “Benkei Bridge” and was created by Tsuchiya Koitsu in 1934 and published by Doi Hangaten.  It shows a famous bridge in Kyoto, lined with blooming cherry trees, in an atmospheric night scene.

– The seller claims this Benkei Bridge woodblock print is a reprint from just after World War II.  The offset seal in the lower left-hand corner is consistent with an early post-war impression.

-Tsuchiya Koitsu (born 1870; died 1949) was a landscape specialist Japanese woodblock print artist renowned for his striking use of light and shadow.  Benkei Bridge is one of his most popular works.

-The print measures 10.5 by 15.6 inches (26.7 by 39.6 centimeters).  This is an “oban” format print, the largest of the commonly encountered sizes.

-The work is unframed and in good condition, with no apparent rips, stains, or trimmed margins.  $298 is an excellent price, provided the work is genuine and as described.

 

Cons:

-Almost all shin hanga Japanese woodblock prints were reprinted one or more times in the mid to late 20th century.  An original is, of course, far more desirable and expensive than a reprint.  Among reprints, those made during the lifetime of the artist are also more valuable then later reprints from the 1980s or 1990s.  You should assume that any print you find for sale online is a reprint, unless it comes from a highly reputable source.

-I would have preferred that the seller include a photo of the back of the print.  All woodblock prints bleed through to the back to some extent.  This is considered a sign of authenticity as any copy of a woodblock print created via laser-jet or other modern printing method will not have this bleed-through.

Japanese Edo-Meiji Period Maki-e Lacquer Kogo (incense box)

Japanese Edo-Meiji Period Maki-e Lacquer Kogo (incense box)
Photo Credit: Dezima-Antiques from Kyushu

Japanese Edo-Meiji Period Maki-e Lacquer Kogo (incense box)

Buy It Now Price: $580 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a stunningly beautiful Japanese lacquer kogo, or incense box, from the Edo or Meiji period. There is more on this attribution below in the “cons” section. The box measures 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) by 2.3 inches (5.9 centimeters) by 0.8 inches (2.1 centimeters). It weighs 1.7 ounces (47 grams).

-It uses maki-e (gold dust) and raden (inlaid mother of pearl) decoration against a chocolate brown lacquer background. Naturalistic scenes – in this case two butterflies hovering above a profusion of wildflowers – are a common theme in Japanese art.

-This lacquer kogo comes with its original, well-patinaed wooden storage box! This is quite a coup, considering the age of the piece. An original box always raises the price and desirability of an antique.

 

Cons:

Antique or vintage Japanese lacquerware can be notoriously difficult to date correctly. Although the seller purports that this lacquerware box is late Edo or early Meiji period (circa 1860 to 1880), I find that attribution unlikely. The cross-hatched, linear mother of pearl inlay is clearly influenced by Art Deco style, something not found in 19th century works. I think it much more probable that this is a Taisho or early Showa era lacquer box from the 1920s or 1930s. There is a possibility the piece could be of post World War II vintage as well. Happily, this potential misattribution does not significantly impact pricing or desirability.

-This lacquerware box has minor wear around the rim where the two separate sections meet. It is not severe and is therefore acceptable given the age and quality of the item.

-The lacquer-work on this box is of a very high caliber, with tremendous attention to detail. However, the piece is also rather small, with its greatest dimension only being 3 inches (7.5 centimeters). While undoubtedly an investment grade piece, its desirability is slightly reduced by its small size. Taking this into account, the asking price of $580 still seems fair, though.