Description:

JAPANESE PUPPET SHOW WOODBLOCK PRINTS BY UCHIDA
Complete set of four Japanese woodblock prints, each 10 1/2" x 15 1/2" and mounted in a 13 1/4" x 19" mat, by HASEGAWA SADANOBU III (1881-1963), and published by the Uchida company in Kyoto, circa 1950. The set consists of three beautifully colored prints depicting four puppets who act as the central characters of the Bunraku (puppet theater) play "The Love Story of Osome". The characters depicted are Osome, her fiancée Hisamatsu and his father, Kyusaku, and Osome's rival, Omitsu. The fourth print consists of a wonderful representation of the main stage setting of the play, Kyusaku's house and the surrounding yard. A rice paper overlay shows the stage positions of the three characters at a pivotal moment in the story, and a separate translucent rice paper sheet gives a brief explanation of Bunraku and of the plot of the play. Each character print bears the artist's printed signature, and the mark of the Uchida company. The verso of each print bears the set number in green ink, and a black ink "SAMPLE" stamp. These prints were salesman's samples acquired by a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Thomas Hood, who sold these prints in the eastern United States on behalf of Uchida. These are excellent examples of "Shin hanga" prints, which were produced under the direction of publishers such as Uchida specifically to appeal to Western tastes and romantic ideas about Japan. Some insignificant toning and light foxing to the mats, else very good. Sold without the original paperboard folder. Also present is a fifth print of the same dimensions, showing the stage settings and character positions for the Bunraku play "The Story of Yaegaki-hime", with the explanatory sheet.

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November 17, 2016 11:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000