• Thin six-lobed iron plate of brownish color is carved on each side with a groove that follows the rim and a concentric grooves around the center of the plate, also carved with six thin scroll lines (mokkō or handles, kan) that follow the shape of the rim. Mokume surface treatment. Hitsu-ana  possibly added at a later date, and kogai-hitsu-ana plugged with gold. Silver sekigane.

    Signed: Kunihide [國秀]. Higo school, 1st generation swordsmith.

    Mid Edo period, ca. 1800.

    Would be possibly attributed to Kamakura-bori school revival of the 19th century.

    References: Nihon Tō Kōza, Volume VI / Japanese Sword / Kodōgu Part 1, page 231: Enju Kunihide, a tōshō from Higo: "...forging of the jigane is excellent, and there are also pieces with mokume hada."

    Haynes Index Vol. 1, p. 741, H 03569.0: "Enju Kunihide in Higo province, died 1830, student of Suishinshi Masahide. Retainer of the Hosokawa Daimyō, etc."

    Additional Information from Markus Sesko:  This tsuba indeed is made by Enju Kunihide, who in his later years signed the HIDE [] character as HI [日] and DE [出], as here: Size: 77.4 x 74.9 x 2.7 mm Similar pieces are: 1. In this collection № TSU-0341: Kamakura-bori tsuba with mokkō motif. Muromachi period, 15th - 16th century. 2. Dr. Walter A. Compton Collection, 1992, Christie’s auction, Part II, pp. 14-15, №16: “A kamakurabori type tsubaMuromachi period, circa 1400. The thin, six-lobed iron plate is carved on each side with a wide groove that follows the shape of the rim, and with six scroll lines and a single thin circular groove. […] The hitsu-ana was added at a later date, circa 1500-1550.  Height 8.3 cm, width 8.6 cm, thickness 2.5 mm. The tsuba was initially intended  to be mounted on a tachi of the battle type in use from Nambokucho to early Muromachi period (1333-1400)”. Sold at $935. 3. And another one in Robert E. Haynes Catalog #9 on page 24-25 under №23: “Typical later Kamakura-bori  style work. This type of plate and carving show the uniform work produced by several schools in the Muromachi </em period. Some had brass inlay and others were just carved as this one is. The hitsu are  later. Ca. 1550. Ht. 8.8 cm, Th. 3.25 mm”. Sold for $175.      
  • Very fine iron plate well hammered and turned, tapering and rolling to the rounded edge. Tsuba of a cross-form mokko shape (juji-mokko-gata) decorated with spider web inlaid in gold on both sides. The face is carved with a silver-damascened spider holding a gold-damascened butterfly (nunome-zōgan). Kozuka and kogai hitsu-ana of inome (boar's eye) form. The udenuki ana may be of purely decorative purpose.

    Signed: Yatsushiro [八代] Jingo Saku [甚吾作], a signature of Chisokutei Amatsune, one of the last Jingo masters.

    Late Edo period, Tenpō era, 1830-1844.

    Size: Height: 77.5 mm; Width: 72.8 mm; Thickness: 4.1 mm; Weight: 141 g.

    In a custom wooden box.

    Here is what Markus Sesko wrights in his book The Japanese toso-kinko Schools, 2012, on page 374:
    An artist who worked in the style of the Shimizu-Jingo school was Chisokutei Amatsune (知足亭天常). He was actually a samurai from Yatsushiro who made tsuba as a sideline. An extant old hakogaki of one of his pieces mentions that he died in Edo in the sixth month of An'ei eight (1779) at the age of 73. But the era of An'ei is probably wrong because Chikokutei (sic) is today dated by most experts around Tenpō (1830-1844). His relationships with the Shimizu school or under which Jingo master he had studied are unknown. From the point of view of production time and the finishing of nakago-ana, he is rather associated with the 5th and last gen. Shigenaga who died in the seventh year of Kaei (1854). A peculiarity of  Chisokutei was that he signed his Jingo copies with  "Yatsushiro Jingo Saku" ([八代甚吾作) but added the small syllable "chi" () or the character "Chi" (知) for "Chisokutei" to identify them as copies.
    No longer available.
  • Iron tsuba of ryō-mokko-gata form decorated with a spotted deer (Nara deer or sika deer) motif in low relief carving (sukidashi-bori) and flat silver inlay (hara-zōgan); deer's eyes and details in gold inlay. Signed on a copper cartouche: Noriyuki. Grass in low relief carving on the reverse. There were two Noriyuki in Hamano school - father (Noriyuki I, 1736-1787) and son (Noriyuki II, 1771-1852). Frankly speaking, I don't know which one made this particular piece. Edo period, late 18th or early 19th century.

    Size: 71.5 x 70.0 x 3.0 mm.

       
  • NEW
    Hardcover 165 x 118 mm, red cloth with gilt cursive lettering to front, collated 8vo: π6 1-158 161, i.e. 127 leaves; pp.: [i-x] xi-xii, [1] 2-241 [242] plus two folding plates – plan of the Hermitage and city map. Title-page: GUIDE PRATIQUE DU VOYAGEUR | SAINT-PETERSBOURG | ET | SES ENVIRONS | PAR | JEAN B. ELAROFF | — | AVEC 2 PLANS ET UNE CARTE | ST-PÉTERSBOURG | — | SOCIÉTÉ DE LIBRAIRIE FRANÇAISE EN RUSSIE | ANCIENNE MAISON MELLIER & Cie | A. ZINSERLING, SUCCr | 20, Perspective Nevsky, 20 | 1892 || Imprint: (in rules) Дозволено цензурою. С.-Петербургь, 17 іюня 1892 г. | (under waved rule) Imprimerie TRENKÉ & FUSNOT, Maximilianovsky pér., Nº 13.
  • Hardcover, 25.2 x 17 cm, quarter burgundy shagreen with raised bands and gilt lettering to spine over turkish marbled boards and endpapers, publisher’s wrappers preserved. Title-page: JEAN BERLEUX | LA | CARICATURE POLITIQUE | EN FRANCE | PENDANT LA GUERRE, LE SIÈGE DE PARIS | ET LA COMMUNE | (1870–1871) | {vignette} | PARIS | LABITTE, ÉM. PAUL ET Cie | LIBRAIRES DE LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE | 4, RUE DE LILLE, 4 | – | 1890 || Collation: 4to; π8 1-274 282, plates within collation; total 118 leaves. Pagination: [i-ix] x-xvi, [1] 2-217 (printed 317) [3], total 236 pages, profusely illustrated, incl. in-text and full-page b/w ils, all within pagination. Condition: Good, scattering foxing, pencil marks. Contributors: Maurice Quentin-Bauchart [pseud. Jean Berleux] (French, 1857 – 1910) – author. Georges Chamerot (French, 1845 – 1922) – printer, president of the 'Chambre syndicale des imprimeurs typographes', married to Claudie Viardot (French, 1852 – 1914) in 1874 – printer. Labitte, Ém. Paul et Cie (Paris) – publisher, Adolphe Labitte (French, 1832 – 1882); Émile Paul (French, 1847 – ?). Another copy in poor condition: LIB-1653.2016, and another, a modern reprint: LIB-0814.2015.
  • Two 8vo volumes bound in one, 19 x 12.5 cm, in full mottled sheepskin with gilt-bordered boards, gilt decorated flat spine with gilt-lettered red and black calf labels, rebacked, marbled endpapers and edges, printed on wove paper, plates on thicker laid paper. Title-page: FABLES | MISES EN VERS | PAR J. DE LA FONTAINE. | TOME PREMIER (SECOND). | {medallion portrait} (printer’s device “PC”) | A PARIS, | CHEZ ANT. AUG. RENOUARD. | M. DCC. XCV. || Collation: Vol. 1: π2 (h.t./imprint, t.p. medallion portrait/blank), [1]-38 (Notice sur la vie…), 1-58 64 (Vie de la Fontaine, Épitre, Préface, Vie d’Ésope), [7]-148 156 χ3 (table); pagination [4] [i] ii-xlviii, [1] 2-234. Total 143 leaves (286 pages) plus 6 plates after Moreau le Jeune by Devilliers fratres (p. 112), E. De Ghendt (pp. 122 and 181), Jean Louis Delignon (p. 140), Delvaux (p. 197), and Ph. Trière (p. 219). Title medallion portrait of La Fontaine (G Rigault pinx. – C S Gaucher inc.) by Gaucher after Rigaud. Vol. 2: π2 1-158 164; pagination [4] [1] 2-247 [248 blank]. Total 126 leaves (252 pages) plus 6 plates after Moreau le Jeune by Devilliers fratres (p. 19), Villerey (pp. 37, 80, and 146), Bosq (p. 121), and Ph. Trière (p. 199). The book published in 1795 (An 3) supplemented with plates produced in 1811 and 1812 for Œuvres complèttes (sic) de Jean de la Fontaine published by Lefèvre in 1814. The reason for choosing this particular edition for someone's library shortly after 1814 was probably the absence of censorship in 1795. Catalogue raisonné: (1) Lewine [LIB-2538.2020] on p. 276 (Paris, chez Renouard, 1795, 2 vols., 8vo., medal portrait on first title, and 12 plates after Moreau by Delvaux, Bosq, Ghendt, Trière, and Villerey). (2) M.-J.-F. Mahérault. L' oeuvre de Moreau le Jeune : catalogue raisonné et descriptif avec notes iconographiques et bibliographiques. — Paris: A. Labitte, 1880. Contributors: Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621–1695) – author. Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune (French, 1741–1814) – artist. Hyacinthe Rigaud (French, 1659 – 1743) – artist. Antoine-Augustin Renouard (French, 1765 – 1853) – publisher. Pierre Causse (French, 1761 – 1834) – printer. Engravers: Charles Étienne Gaucher (French, 1741 – 1804) Etienne De Villiers [Devilliers, Devilliers fratres] (French, 1784 – after 1844) Emmanuel Jean Nepomucène de Ghendt (Flemish, worked in France, 1738 – 1815) Jean-Louis Delignon (French, 1755 – 1820) Rémi Henri Joseph Delvaux (French, 1748 – 1823) Philippe Trière (French, 1756 – c. 1815) Auguste Villerey (French, 1801 – 1846) Jean Bosq (French, fl. c. 1801 – 1844)
  • 4to volume, ‘cartonnage percaline romantique’, 27.5 x 19.5 cm, green cloth with gilt fillet border and fictional coat of arms to front, border and fleuron to back, gilt and embossed vignette to spine, yellow endpapers, all edges gilt, 32 plates, incl. frontispiece, with tissue guards, and numerous in-text woodcuts after J.-J. Grandville by various engravers, mostly by Best, Leloir, Hotelin et Régnier group. Page 102 is numbered correctly. Title-page: JÉROME | PATUROT | A LA RECHERCHE | D'UNE POSITION SOCIALE | PAR | LOUIS REYBAUD, | Auteur des Études sur les Reformateurs ou Socialistes modernes. | — | Édition illustrée par J.-J. Grandville. | {vignette} | PARIS, | J.-J. DUBOCHET, LE CHEVALIER ET Cie, ÉDITEURS, | RUE DE RICHELIEU, 60. | – | 1846 || Collation: π4 1-574 582; total 234 leaves plus 32 wood-engraved plates extraneous to collation. Pagination: [8] [1] 2-460; total 468 pages, ils. Catalogue raisonné: L. Carteret 516; Ray 197 (pp. 277-8); Brivois: 350-1. Contributors: Louis Reybaud [Jérôme Paturot] (French, 1799 – 1879) – author. J.-J. Grandville [Isidore-Adolphe Gèrard] (French, 1803 – 1847) – artist. Schneider et Legrand (Paris) – printer. J.-J. Dubochet, Le Chevalier et Cie – publsiher. Engravers: Lucjan Stypulkowski (Polish, 1806 – 1849) Best, Leloir, Hotelin et Régnier Jean Baptiste Best (French, 1808 – 1879) or Adolphe Best (French, 1808 – 1860) Isidore Leloir (French, 1806 – 1851) Laurent Éloi Hotelin (French, 1821 – 1894) Eugène Laurent Isidore Régnier (?)
  • Jizai okimono bronze articulated model of a crab. Japan, Meiji period(1868-1912). Size: Body: 6.5 x 6 cm. Total: 23 x 11 cm. Weight: 762 g
  • NEW
    Artist: Attributed to Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎) (1760–1849) – unsigned. Publisher: Unknown, seal Hei (平); Marks 05-004 | U377a (1848) Censor Seal: Double nanushi Hama (濱) & Kunigasa (衣笠) Date: Kōka 4–5 / Kaei 1 (1847–1848) Media: Rigid fan print (Aiban Yoko-e Uchiwa-e, 合判横絵 団扇絵), 239 × 301 mm The legendary elderly couple Jō and Uba (尉と姥), spirits of the paired pines of Takasago (高砂) and Sumiyoshi (住吉), are known as the Aioi-no-Matsu (相生の松). They symbolize marital harmony, longevity, and the enduring bond of love. The Takasago legend is one of the oldest in Japanese mythology, famously portrayed in the Noh play Takasago no Uta (高砂の歌).

    Aioi-no-Matsu – The Paired Pines of Takasago and Sumiyoshi

    The Aioi-no-Matsu refers to two pine trees growing separately but intertwined at the roots, representing an unbreakable union.
    • The Takasago pine (高砂の松) grows in Harima Province, while the Sumiyoshi pine (住吉の松) stands in Settsu Province.
    • Though physically distant, these trees are spiritually connected, like Jō and Uba, the aged couple who embody their spirits.
    • The phrase "The wind that blows through Takasago reaches Sumiyoshi" symbolizes the continuity of love and harmony across time and space.

    Aioi-no-Matsu in the Noh Play Takasago

    The Noh play Takasago, attributed to Zeami, popularized this imagery.
    • Jō and Uba appear as an elderly couple raking pine needles, revealing themselves as the spirits of the Aioi-no-Matsu.
    • The play conveys the theme of eternal harmony between husband and wife, making Aioi-no-Matsu a symbol of auspicious blessings for weddings and longevity celebrations.

    Symbolism in the Print

    This print incorporates traditional symbols of longevity and prosperity:
    • A minogame (蓑亀, "straw-cloaked turtle"), representing immortality, rests near the shore.
    • A crane (鶴, tsuru), a symbol of marital fidelity.
    • The rising sun over the ocean represents renewal and hope for the coming year.
    • Jō and Uba’s presence under the Aioi-no-Matsu (Paired Pines) evokes the traditional New Year’s wish for long life and unity.
    • The minogame and crane further reinforce New Year’s themes of prosperity and fortune.

    Comparison to MFA Boston Prints

    This print shares strong visual and thematic connections with two works attributed to Hokusai in the MFA Boston collection:
    • Accession No. 21.10269 – "Jō and Uba, the Spirits of the Pine Trees of Takasago and Sumiyoshi"
      • Depicts the couple sweeping pine needles, reinforcing themes of domestic harmony and renewal.
      • Includes a minogame and a flying crane, similar to this print.
    • Accession No. 21.7869 – Another version of "Jō and Uba"
      • Shows Jō and Uba standing, gazing at the sea, in a more expansive composition.
      • Features a large pine tree, crashing waves, and a red sun, mirroring the background elements in this print.

    MFA-B № 21.10269

    MFA-B № 21.7869

  • 2 volume set, ¾ burgundy morocco over peacock marbled boards, ruled gilt, raised bands, gilt-ruled in compartments, gilt lettering, marbled endpapers and all margins, binding by W. S. Hiltz, NY. Vol. 1. Title: Typographia, | OR THE | Printers' Instructor: | INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT | of the | ORIGIN OF PRINTING, | with | Biographical Notices of the Printers of | England, from Caxton to the close | of the Sixteenth Century : | A Series of | Ancient and Modern Alphabets, | and | DOMESDAY CHARACTERS: | Together with | An Elucidation of every Subject con- | nected with the Art. | By J. JOHNSON, Printer. |{stanza}| Vol. I. | In frame: Published by Messrs. Longman, Hurst, | Rees, Orme, Brown & Green, Pater- | noster Row, London | Under the frame: 1824. || Pagination: Blank leaf, [2] – blank / engraved frontispiece (portrait of William Caxton by W. Hughes) w/guard, [2] – engraved t.p. by Thompson (upper margin almost none, tall lower margin, unframed) / blank, letterpress t.p. w/guard / blank, [2] – dedication to Earl Spenser and Roxburghe Club members / list of members, [2] – engraved Roxburgh Club plate by W. Hughes / blank, [4] – the pedigree of Earl Spenser, [i] ii-xii preface, [1] 2-610, [10] – index, blank leaf; printed on wove paper, text within double rule border. Vol. 2. Title: Typographia, | OR THE | Printers' Instructor: | INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT | of the | ORIGIN OF PRINTING, | with | Biographical Notices of the Printers of | England, from Caxton to the close | of the Sixteenth Century : | A Series of | Ancient and Modern Alphabets, | and | DOMESDAY CHARACTERS: | Together with | An Elucidation of every Subject con- | nected with the Art. | By J. JOHNSON, Printer. |{stanza}| Vol. II. | In frame: Published by Messrs. Longman, Hurst, | Rees, Orme, Brown & Green, Pater- | noster Row, London | Under the frame: 1824. || Pagination: Blank leaf, [2] – blank / engraved frontispiece (portrait of John Johnson ÆTATIS XLVI by William Harvey), w/o guard, [2] – engraved t.p. by G. W. Bonner (framed) / blank, letterpress t.p. w/o guard / blank, [2] – advert. / explanation of engraved title, [i]-iv contents, [1, 2] 3-663 [664], [14] – index, [2] – cantata, blank leaf; printed on wove paper, text within double rule border. Note: This is the book that served as a source of plagiarism for  Adams's Typographia: a brief sketch of the origin, rise, and progress of the typographic art published in Philadelphia by himself in 1837.
  • Book: Hardcover, 187 x 125 mm, modern binding ‘à la Bradel’ by Boichot in full orange morocco with gilt lettering to spine, in a morocco-bordered slipcase with gilt floral arabesque design, similar endpapers; original wrappers preserved; collated in 18mo, pp: [4] 1-441 [3]. Bookplate of Jean-Pierre Dutel to ffl. Fifteen illustrations 181 x 115 mm tipped in after pp. 46, 72, 88, 118, 202, 234, 236, 244, 290, 300, 354, 360, 378, 382, and 390. Front wrapper (red and black): J.-K. HUYSMANS | ~~ | Là-Bas | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | TRESSE & STOCK, ÉDITEURS | 8, 9, 10, Galerie du Théâtre-Français | — | 1891 || Title-page: same as wrapper, in black. Limitation: Il a été tiré de cet ouvrage dix exemplaires sur papier de Hollande et dix exemplaires sur papier du Japon, numérotés à la presse. This copy is not from the limited edition and printed on a regular paper. Printer: Darantiere (Dijon) Illustrations: According to Luc Binet [LIB-3301.2024], “In 2016, the Turin bookseller Roberto Cena put up for sale two full-leather bound albums, one containing watercolours illustrating Huysmans' famous novel, the other the preparatory drawings. The first volume contained 16 plates (sheet 25 x 16.5 cm, drawing 15 x 9.5 cm), i.e. 15 drawings in ink and pencil and one pencil drawing. Each plate is numbered at the top right, in pencil or ink, and captioned in the lower margin. Volume II contained 15 watercolours (sheet 25 x 16 cm, image 15 x 9.5 cm). This is probably a commission from a bibliophile since the chosen format is perfectly compatible with the original edition of Huysmans' text (19 x 13 cm)”. Catalogue raisonné: Luc Binet 2017: X-12, p. 908. Contributors: Huysmans, Joris-Karl (French, 1848 – 1907) – author. Maële, Martin van (French, 1863 – 1926) – artist. Darantiere, Maurice (French, 1882 – 1962) – printer.
  • Description: One volume 22.8 x 25.4 cm, in contemporary gilt-ruled brown half morocco over green buckram boards, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, printed in sanguine; pp. [6] [1-3] 4-234 [4], 36 blank leaves ruled red, 12 blank leaves; total 170 leaves; 35 mounted marbled paper samples on 10 sheets. Title-page: THE PROGRESS | OF THE MARBLING ART | FROM | TECHNICAL SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES | BY JOSEF HALFER | WITH A SUPPLEMENT ON THE | DECORATION OF BOOK EDGES | Translated by Herman Dieck, Philadelphia {gothic} | BUFFALO, N. Y. | LOUIS H. KINDER | 1893 || Edition: 1st American edition (and first edition in English) after two editions in Budapest (Austro-Hungary) in 1884 and 1890. Contributors: Josef Halfer (Austrian, 1846 – 1916) – author. Herman Dieck (American, fl. 1883 – 1896) – translator. Louis H. Kinder (American, 1867 – 1938) – publisher.  
  • Title page: GUIDE DE L’AMATEUR | BIBLIOGRAPHIE | DES | OUVRAGES ILLUSTRES | DU | XIXe SIÈCLE | PRINCIPALEMENT DES LIVRES A GRAVURES SUR BOIS | PAR | JULES BRIVOIS | AUTEUR DE LA BIBLIOGRAPHIE DE L’ŒUVRE DE P.-J. BÉRANGER | MEMBRE FONDATEUR DE LA SOCIÉTÉ DES AMIS DES LIVRES | — | PARIS | LIBRAIRIE L. CONQUET | 5, RUE DROUOT, 5 | 1883 || Justification: Il a été tire : | 900 exemplaires sur papier vergé. | Et 50 exemplaires sur grand papier de Hollande. | Tous sont numérotés et paraphes par l’auteur. | № {188 signature} | Les numéros pairs portent le nom de M. L. Conquet. | Et les numéros impairs celui de M. P. Rouquette. | — | Le dépôt légal sera fait en France et dans tous les pays avec lesquels il | existe des conventions pour la propriété littéraire. | Tous droits réservés. || Pagination : [2] blank, [i-v] vi-xiii [xiv], [1] 2-468; the total number of pages = 484. Collation: π8 1-288   2910, an asterisk on leaf 295; the total number of leaves 242; 3 blank leaves of wove paper before and after collation. Imprint to 11 : Imp. de Mme de Lacombe; Imprint to 2910 : Nancy, imprimerie Berger-Levrault et Cie. Binding: ¾ polished distressed calf over marbled boards by the previous owner "E.D", gilt-stamped spine with gilt-lettered black label, peacock marbled endpapers, printed on laid paper. Contributors: Jules Brivois (French, 1832 – 1920) – author. L. Conquet (Paris) – publisher. P. Rouquette (Paris) – publisher. Berger-Levrault et Cie – printer.  
  • Sheet № 20 from the series of 42 сhromolithography prints 'Skizzen und Bilder aus ROM und der Umgegend' (Sketches and pictures from Rome and surroundings).

    Inscriptions:

    Top left: LINDEMANN-FROMMEL’S Top right: Skizzen und Bilder aus ROM und der Umgegend. Centre below: No 20 | IL CASTEL E IL PONTE SANT ANGELO, | E SAN PIETRO. Bottom left: Imp. de JACOMME et Cie. R. de Lancry, 16 Paris. Bottom centre: Stuttgart, bei FRANZ KÖHLER. Bottom right: Paris, Goupil et Cie. Editeurs.

    Dimensions:

    Plate: 372 x 473 mm Sheet: 372 x 473 mm

    Contributors:

    Lindemann-Frommel, Karl (French-German, 1819 – 1891) – artist. Jacomme, Claude (French, fl. 1838 – 1857) – printer/lithographer. Goupil et Cie (Paris); Goupil, Adophe (French, 1806 – 1893) – publisher Franz Köhler (Stuttgart); Köhler, Franz (German, 1805 – 1872) – publisher.

  • Katsukawa Shun'ei. Signed: Shun'ei ga (春英画). Vertical Ōban. No reference whatsoever. Unidentified play, actors, roles, year, theatre. SOLD  
  • NEW
    Artist: Katsukawa Shun'ei [勝川 春英] (Japanese, 1762 – 1819) Signature: Shun'ei ga [春英画] Dimensions: Aiban yoko-e uchiwa-e, 230 x 268 mm. Censor seal: absent (probably because before 1810). Publisher: Iseya Sōemon – 板元,上, Marks 21-216|156g: Hanmoto, Ue. A blue seal in the middle of the print.
  • Katsukawa Shun'ei. The Sumo Bout between Yotsuguruma (right) and Yamaoroshi (left). Date: 1800 or 1805/06. Similar sheet can be found at Edo Tokyo Museum. Size: Vertical Ōban. Sumo wrestler Yotsuguruma Daihachi (1772 - 1809) first appeared in the records of national tournaments in winter of 1794. Then he lost 3 matches and won zero. He first won in the spring tournament of 1797 in a match against maegashira (the fifth-highest rank of sumo wrestlers) named Kougamine. Yamaoroshi Gengo (born 1762) came in at the winter tournament of 1799 . He was much more successful in his career than Yotsuguruma, but he had never won a tournament. It was the time of great Raiden, who won most of them. In the spring tournament of 1800 Yotsuguruma and Yamaoroshi fought against each other for the first time. Yotsuguruma lost. The next time they met on the ring was at the winter tournament of 1805, and again in 1806. Both matches were won by Yamaoroshi. Yamaoroshi retired in 1809; Yotsuguruma died in 1809.  
  • Artist: Kawanabe Kyōsai [河鍋 暁斎] (Japanese, 1831 – 1889) Signed: Seisei Kyosai [惺々暁斎], and sealed. Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 215 x 233 mm. Publisher: Unknown / No seal Date: Unknown / No seal Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 215 x 233 mm. Possibly, a private order. Wind chimes (fûrin, 風鈴) are associated with a Wind Chimes Festival [風鈴祭り], held in summer all over Japan. Seller's description: wo swallows streak by with seeming joy past a fûrin, a wind bell. These Japanese wind chimes were introduced to Japan in the Heian era, and in the Edo period, they began to be constructed out of glass. We see the hanging length of paper twisting in the breeze as it creates a delightful chime; these tones are a characteristic sound of summer in Japan. A layer of deluxe mica covers the entire design, lending sparkle. This work was meant to be pasted onto an uchiwa, or fan, for summer use.