Japanese Woodblock Prints from an Important Private European Collection

Utagawa Kuninao (1795–1854) | Two impressions of Noh mask and brocade cloth | Edo – Meiji period, 19th century

Lot Closed

June 13, 12:39 PM GMT

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 EUR

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Lot Details

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Description

Utagawa Kuninao (1795–1854)

Two impressions of Noh mask and brocade cloth

Edo – Meiji period, 19^th century

each a woodblock print, surimono, embellished with metallic pigment, sealed Kuninao, privately issued, poems by Shojuro Nagatoshi, the first embellished with gofun, and with printer's seal Suriko Kozen, circa 1830s-40s, the second late 19th century; each with collector's seal of Gerhard Pulverer to verso

Each shikishiban surimono: each approx. 20.5 x 18.1 cm., 8 x 7⅛ in.

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Utagawa Kuninao (1795-1854), Deux impressions de masque nô et tissu de brocart, époque Edo - Meiji, XIXe siècle

Gerhard Pulverer (b. 1930)

A waka onna mask used for the portrayal of young women in the noh theatre is placed on its silk brocade cover. The poem by Shojuro Nagatoshi has been translated as:

Gently smiling

as if she were living,

her pursed lips

a petal of plum-blossom –

a work of art!

Niko niko to

ikeru ga gotoki

meisaku no

kitoku wa ume mo

totose ni waraeru

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