Fine Japanese Prints

Fine Japanese Prints

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 127. Utagawa Yoshitora (active circa 1836-1880) | The Garden of Kingoro in Somei (Somei uekiya Kingoro) | Edo period, 19th century.

Utagawa Yoshitora (active circa 1836-1880) | The Garden of Kingoro in Somei (Somei uekiya Kingoro) | Edo period, 19th century

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Lot Closed

December 14, 03:06 PM GMT

Estimate

3,000 - 4,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Utagawa Yoshitora (active circa 1836-1880)

The Garden of Kingoro in Somei (Somei uekiya Kingoro)

Edo period, 19th century


woodblock print, from the series A Collection of Fashionable Chrysanthemums (Ryukou kikuka soroi), signed Ichimosai Yoshitora ga, censor's seal kiwame, circa 1844


Horizontal oban: 26.1 x 37.9 cm., 10¼ x 15 in.

In this print two women admire a large chrysanthemum doll (kikuningyo) in the form of an elephant. During the Edo period (1603-1868), gardening became increasingly popular and entertainments developed in the form of flower shows for new types and species, called ‘chrysanthemum matching’ (kikuawase). Also the display of chrysanthemum dolls (kikuningyo) is believed to have been introduced by a gardener from Somei (present day Komagome in Toshima Ward) during the Bunka period (1804-1818).