/Collection
  • Iron tsuba of round form decorated with eight roundels - circular emblems of flowers and/or family crests (mon) made of cast brass, pierced and chiseled in kebori, and with flat brass inlay (hira-zōgan) of vines or seaweed all over the plate. Hitsu-ana outlined in brass. Four positive silhouette roundels are 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6- pointing crests/flowers; four negative silhouette roundels are bellflower, cherry blossom, and suhama. Yoshirō school (Kaga-Yoshirō). The Momoyama or early Edo period, beginning of 17th century.   Size: diameter 77 mm, thickness 3,8 mm
  • A very large and very thin iron tsuba of round form decorated with design of formalized butterfly and dragonfly in openwork (sukashi). The characteristics of the plate resemble those of Kamakura period ko-tōshō tsuba. However, the design seems too 'modern' to me, but it's hard to tell; it may be a late Muromachi or Momoyama period work. Tōshō or Ko-Tōshō school (or a Katchushi). Muromachi period. Dimensions: 99.6 x 100.5 x 2.1 mm. This is what Jim Gilbert says about old tsuba:
    "Traditionally the old iron plate tsuba are classified into Ko Tosho (old sword smith), and Ko Katchushi (old armor maker) styles. It is sometimes difficult to justify attribution of a given tsuba to the Tosho or Katchushi category. Generally guards with raised rims or relatively complex designs tend to be assigned to Katchushi. This is basically a convention we follow out of habit and convenience." [...] "In Token Kai-Shi part six, Articles by Akiyama Kyusaku, Robert Haynes comments: "…from 1300 to 1400 over 150,000 MOUNTED swords were made in Japan for export alone. This means that over four tsuba a day were made for 100 years. This would mean that at least 3000 persons were making nothing but tsuba, let alone all the other fittings needed to complete these swords. With sword smiths, fittings makers and all the other artists need to complete a sword for export, at least 10,000 sword artists were working together, in any one of these hundred years."
    Reference to design can be found at "Japanese Swords and Tsuba from the Professor A. Z. Freeman and the Phyllis Sharpe Memorial collections" / Sotheby's, London, Thursday 10 April 1997; p. 18-19, lot № 37: "A Kamakura-bori Tsuba, Momoyama Period. ...pierced with two large formalised butterflies..."

    A Kamakura-bori tsuba of octagonal form, Momoyama period.

    Reference to design in this collection: TSU-0319.

    TSU-0319. Ōnin ten-zōgan tsuba, Muromachi period.

     
  • Iron tsuba of oval form with the design of two immortals (Gama Sennin with the toad upon his head and Tekkai Sennin with his iron crutch) beside a waterfall carved in low relief with a high relief effect (takabori) and with details inlaid in gold. A waterfall carved on the reverse. Nakago-ana is plugged with copper sekigane. Unsigned. Allegedly, Mito School.

    Edo period, ca. 1700.

    Size: Height: 87.0 mm; Width: 82.8 mm; Thickness: 4.4 mm; Weight: 179 g.

    No longer available.
  • Iron tsuba of round form inlaid with brass and shakudo (suemon-zōgan) with a design of tendrils, leaves, double gourds, and folding fan with two wild geese on the face and the same design only with a fan with two interlocked rings (wachigai) on the back. Design is supplemented with a round family crest (mon) of three fans in openwork (sukashi). Hitsu-ana and the mon are outlined with brass rope. Copper sekigane.

    Some attribute such tsuba as belonging to Heianjō or even Yoshirō School, and date them to Momoyama period. I keep this piece under Ōnin rubric, late Muromachi, but this is just a question of personal preference.

    Some inlay is missing, some repaired; traces of rust. Otherwise - decent condition.

    Late Muromachi period (1514-1573). Size: 77.4 x 77.1 x 3.8 (center), 3.2 (rim) mm
  • Classical picklock bayonet switchblade knife with bolster release, fixed guard, cream handles (ivory?).

    Size: 123 mm x 20 mm (closed); 220 mm (opened); 130 mm blade.

    Tang is etched with: Havlin.
  • Iron tsuba of round form pierced (sukashi) and inlaid in flat (hira-zōgan) and cast brass (suemon-zōgan), details carved in kebori, with design of two phoenixes, bamboo, and paulownia leaves and flowers (kiri-mon) on both sides. According to seller: Bizen-Yoshirō school (or Heianjō school). Unsigned.

    Momoyama period. End of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century. Dimensions: Diameter: 99.5 mm; Thickness: 2.1 mm at centre; 4.3 mm at the rim. According to Merrily Baird (Symbols of Japan), "bamboo teamed with paulownia blossoms or with paulownia and the phoenix, in reference to the Chinese legend that the phoenix perches only on the paulownia and eats only the bamboo". Citation from http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1986.2.1: "The immense heraldic birds on display [...] reflect the Momoyama era's spirit of newly gained self-confidence and an affinity for grand expressive statements in painting, architecture, the textile and ceramic arts, as well as garden design. While that period preceded the arrival of prosperity, it clearly marked an extraordinary moment in Japanese cultural history, one frequently compared with the twelfth century of the Heian period.  [...] Rather than an emblem of immortality, as it is in Western lore, in Japan, the phoenix evolved out of its origins in Chinese mythology to become, by the sixteenth century, an auspicious symbol of political authority. Together with clusters of the distinctively shaped paulownia leaves, this long-tailed, mythical bird  [...] proclaiming an air of graceful command".  
  • Iron tsuba of round form adorned with the design of stars, wild geese, floating blossoms, leaves and tendrils realized in brass inlay. The inlay technique includes suemon-zōgan and ten-zōgan. Two smaller openings (hitsu-ana) surrounded by a scalloped brass border. The seppa-dai border inlay is missing, as well as a few other fragments of inlay on both sides. Sword cut at 12 o'clock on the reverse. A tsuba with a strong autumnal connotation, which once belonged to a great battle weapon. One of only three known jūyō Ōnin tsuba. Translation of the paper, issued by the Japanese sword fittings (tosogu) examination board: Designated as jūyō-tosogu at the 34th jūyō-shinsa held on April 14th 1988 Kaki-karimon zōgan-tsuba (花卉雁文象嵌鐔) — Tsuba with zōgan design of flowers and wild geese. Mumei: Onin (応仁) Tokyo. Nakasono Tokumi (中園とくみ) Measurements: height 9.5 cm, width 9.4 cm, thickness at rim 0.35 cm Interpretation: marugata, iron, brass zōgan, two hitsu-ana Time: end of Muromachi Explanation: Ōnin-tsuba are thin iron ita-tsuba which show a brass zōgan ornamentation. All of them are mumei and there is the theory that they were made in the Onin era (1467-1469) although today more and more the theory is accepted that they are in general late Muromachi period works. There are two kinds of brass zōgan interpretations: One depicts irregularly arranged tachibana branches, wild geese, chrysanthemums, flowers, or karakusa for example, and the other one shows punctual zōgan elements, which are referred to as hoshi-zōgan or ro-zōgan, and concentrical zōgan elements between the nakago-ana and the rim. The latter interpretations might also be accompanied by simple ko-sukashi in the form of butterflies, clouds, hats, or stylized mountains. This tsuba is a typical work from the former category. It is large and feels massive and the powerful and impressive zōgan and the excellent iron make it a highly tasteful piece. Back side: Issued to: Nakasono Tokumi Address: Tokyo-to, Suginami-ku, Kamitakaido 2-17-26 Date of issue: May 30th 1989
  • Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese: 歌川 国貞; also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III (三代歌川豊国); 1786 – 12 January 1865).

    A man with a shaved head (a monk), holding a paper lantern and an umbrella, walks with a young woman (a geisha) in the rain.

    SIGNED: Gototei Kunisada ga [五渡亭国貞画]

    Censor's seals: kiwame, futakata.

    Blockcutter's mark: Seizô tô [改印:極、貳方]

    MFA ACCESSION NUMBER 11.15150; MFA dating: about 1815–21 (Bunka 12–Bunsei 4);

    Size: Vertical Ōban (382 x 260 mm). SOLD
  • Artist: André Gill [real name Louis-André Gosset] (French, 1840 – 1885). L'Esclave Ivre [The Drunken Slave] was a  Parisian weekly, published in 1881, 4 issues total. Léon Gambetta (French, 1838 – 1882) stands arm in arm with Marshal Patrice de MacMahon (French, 1808 – 1893). Dead bodies of communards lie in the midground and a landscape is faintly perceived in the background. 1871 is written on the hill on the left. L'Esclave Ivre, Issue 1. Entre Amis. Text below the image: - Qu'est-ce que je veux, moi? Faire notre affaire. / - Bien sûr! Moi aussi. / - Comme il me comprend cet animal-là, et on ne veut pas que je le gobe! [In between friends / - What do I want? To make a deal. / - Of course! Me too. / - How well this animal understands me, and we do not want me to swallow him!]
  • Title: TALES | OF | Humour, Gallantry, & Romance, | SELECTED AND TRANSLATED | FROM THE ITALIAN. | Vignette "The Elopement, p. 183" | With sixteen illustrative Drawings by George Cruikshank. | — | LONDON : | PRINTED FOR CHARLES BALDWYN, | NEWGATE STREET. | MDCCCXXVII. Pagination: [2], [v]-vi [2] – Contents (Cohn's collation calls for this at the end) 3-253, [1]; title-page a cancel with vignette 'The Elopment', sixteen other plates by Cruikshank; as per HathiTrust: vi, 253, [3] p. (last p. blank), [16] leaves of plates: ill. Binding: 8vo, 20 x 13 cm, later polished calf, gilt, t.e.g. others untrimmed, by Rivière for H. Sotheran. Note: 1st edition, very rare 3rd issue, with a cancel title-page replacing that of 1824 issue when there were two issues and the work was entitled Italian Tales. Cohn notes the rarity of the 1827 edition, which restores one of the plates 'The Dead Rider', suppressed in the second issue, and also includes the plate done to replace it. "The rarest edition of this work is that published in 1827 in green paper boards [...]. This issue has no edition stated on the title. It has seventeen woodcuts, inclusive of the "Elopement" vignette upon the title. The suppressed plate "The Dear Rider" is restored, and the plate done to replace it is also included. The woodcut in other editions upon the title page is "The Pomegranate Seed". Probably compiled and translated by Thomas Roscoe (cf. National union catalog) from a variety of authors 'out of materials not generally accessible', but also ascribed to J. Y. Akerman and to one "Southern". Two or three tales that furnished plots for Shakespeare. Catalogue Raisonné: Cohn 444; this issue not found in OCLC or COPAC.
  • Jizhou black glaze bottle decorated with a leaf, placed on to the glaze before firing, and burnt away in the kiln to leave its pattern. Foot unglazed. China, the Song dynasty [宋朝] (960 – 1279). Height: 27.5 cm.
  • Vol. 1: THE | POEMS | OF | OSSIAN. | TRANSLATED | By JAMES MACPHERSON, Esq; | IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. | A NEW EDITION. | LONDON: | PRINTED FOR W. STRAHAN ; AND T. CADELL, | IN THE STRAND. | MDCCLXXXIV.|| Vol. 2:THE | POEMS | OF | OSSIAN. | TRANSLATED | By JAMES MACPHERSON, Esq; |  VOL. II. | A NEW EDITION. | LONDON: | PRINTED FOR W. STRAHAN ; AND T. CADELL, | IN THE STRAND. | MDCCLXXXV.|| Vol.1: [i-v] vi-xiii, [2] 3-404 pp; vol.2: [6], [2] 3-435 pp. Two volumes, 22.5 x 14.7 cm; hardcover; full calf with the spines later professionally rebound; original boards with sympathetic repairs to the margins and corners.5 raised bands, red label with gilt lettering to Sp. Bindings remain firm, page blocks firm, boards stained, pages a little rippled, with occasional marks throughout. spotting and marks to endpapers. James Macpherson (British, 1736–1796) was a Scottish writer, poet, literary collector and politician, known as the "translator" of the Ossian cycle of epic poems. Publishing Year: 1784 Publisher: W. Strahan and T. Cadell
  • Hardcover, 30 x 26 cm, publisher's pictorial boards, pp.: [1-5] 6-168, il.
    Published to accompany the recent successful exhibition at the Museu Picasso, Barcelona, this book sheds new light on Picasso's work - his connection with Japanese art. It is illustrated with images by both Japanese printmakers and Western artists.
  • Title: The amorous drawings | {vignette} | of the | Marquis von Bayros | Part I | BRANDON HOUSE | NORTH HOLLYWOOD || Title page verso: A BRANDON HOUSE BOOK | PUBLISHED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH | CYTHERA PRESS | COPYRIGHT 1968 BY CYTHERA PRESS | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. | MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA || Pagination: [1-3] 4-238 [2], 292 illustrations within pagination. Content: Preface by Wilhelm M. Busch, biography of Von Bayros by Johann Pilz, two essays by Von Bayros; 292 illustrations by Marquis Franz von Bayros; Part I and II in one volume. Exterior: 28 x 22 cm, publisher's green wrappers with yellow lettering and fac-simile drawing of von Bayros to cover, lettering to spine. A re-print softcover edition of the original Cythera Press 1st edition, see: LIB-2246.2019
  • Cover and title page: Освободительная библiотека. | П. А. КРОПОТКИНЪ. | Парижская коммуна | В. СИМКОВИЧЪ | Послѣдние годы борьбы Россiи | съ самодержавiемъ | {publisher’s device} | ИЗДАНIЕ В. Д. КАРЧАГИНА. | Москва—1906. || Publisher’s lettered wrappers, pagination: [1-5] 6-83 [84], collation: 8vo, [1]8 2-58 62; size: 10.5 x 14 cm. Contents: П. А. Кропоткин. Парижская коммуна / Пер. Т. Брона — pp. 3-31; В. Симкович. Последнии годы борьбы России с самодержавием / Пер. Л. П. Данилова — pp. 33- 83. Kropotkin, Pyotr Alexeyevich [Кропоткин, Пётр Алексеевич] (Russian, 1842 – 1921) — author of the text. Simkhovitch, Vladimir Gregorievitch [Симкович, В.] (Russian-American, 1874 – 1959) — author of the text. Кушнерёв, Иван Николаевич (Russian, 1827 – 1896) — printer.  
  • Round plate with a blue and white design of blossoming peony behind a fence with lattice and floral border; flowers to the bottom. Diameter: 33 cm, Haight: 4.5 cm.
  • Title: IDYLLE | PRINTANIÈRE || Verso: {Headpiece} | Justification du tirage | {7 lines of text} | Exemplaire № 56 (digits by hand) | HP (monogram by hand) | {tailpiece} || Album of 30 hand-coloured lithographs and frontispiece in a cardboard folder; each sheet mounted in a 32.5 x 25 cm passepartout with 19 x 13 cm window; published in Paris in 1938 by Henri Pasquinelli (attributed). No artist, no publisher name indicated. According to Justification du tirage, the print run of 516 copies on Arches laid tinted paper (vergé), copy A – control artist’s uncoloured, 15 copies B–P reserved for collaborators and friends, copies 1–500 – for bibliophiles. This copy № 56, autographed by the publisher's monogram: "HP". Catalogue Raisonné: J.-P. Dutel, vol 2 (1920–1970), #1726, p. 207-8. Provenance: J.-P. Dutel.
  • Small stoneware cup with rounded sides raising from a short foot to an inverted rim; glazed inside with a green and brown six-petal design on a blue background with creem dots. Amber glaze outside, blue bottom, foot unglazed. Dia: 10 cm; H: 4 cm.
  • An actor dressed as a witch, with red hair, a gold patterned costume with tortoiseshell and flower lozenge design, and an inlaid ivory mask, hands, feet and flower blossom. Signature to the bottom: Kogyoku [光玉]. Dimensions: 4.17 x 3.07 x 2.99 cm. Provenance: Collection of Gloria and Joe Kurilecz. Sold by Eldred's, on August 25, 1993, Lot #699.
  • Title page: GRAHAM | GREENE | {vignette} | THE | THIRD MAN | NEW YORK • THE VIKING PRESS • 1950 || Title verso: COPYRIGHT 1949, 1950 BY GRAHAM GREENE | PUBLISHED BY THE VIKING PRESS IN MARCH 1950 | PUBLISHED ON THE SAME DAY IN THE DOMINION OF CANADA | BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA LIMITED | A condensed version appeared | in The American Magazine, | {publisher’s device} | PRINTED IN U.S.A. BY THE COLONIAL PRESS INC. || Pagination: [1-6] 7-157 [158] [2] blank. Binding: quarter red cloth over grey cloth boards with black lettering to spine, pictorial dust jacket with lettering to front, back and spine, unclipped, $2.00 in the upper-right corner of the front flap. Size:19.5 x 13.5 cm. Edition: 1st American edition. Contributors: Henry Graham Greene (British, 1904 – 1991) – author. The Viking Press, NY (1925 – 1975) – publisher. The Colonial Press, Inc – printer.
  • Title page: ЛОНГ | ДАФНИС И ХЛОЯ | Вступительная статья, | перевод и комментарии | С. П. Кондратьева | ACADEMIA | 1935 || Opposite title: АНТИЧНАЯ ЛИТЕРАТУРА | под общей редакцией | Д. А. Горбова, В. О. Нилендера | и П. Ф. Преображенского | ЛОНГ | (III—IV век н. э.) | ACADEMIA | Москва—Ленинград || Title verso: ΛΌΓΓΟΥ | Ποιμενικών των κατά Δάφνιν και Χλόην | Λόγοι τέτταρες | LONGI | Pastoralium de Daphnide et Chloë | libri quattuor | Рисунки, заставки, концовки, переплет и супер-обложка В. Г. Бехтеева || Pagination: [i-vi] vii-xx [2], [1, 2] 3-196 [2], 220 pages total, plus frontispiece in colour extra to collation; and 13 b/w plates within collation, headpieces after Бехтеев, Владимир Георгиевич (Russian, 1878 – 1971). Collation: i8 ii3, 1-128 133 = 110 leaves plus 1 plate. Binding: 17.5 x 13 cm, grey cloth, vignette to front board, lettering to spine, pictorial dust-jacket. Print run: 5,300 copies. Catalogue raisonné: В. В. Крылов, Е. В. Кичатова (2004): № 744, p. 265. Contributors: Longus [Лонг, Λόγγος] (Greek, 2nd century AD) – author. Кондратьев, Сергей Петрович (Russian, 1872 – 1964) – translator. Бехтеев, Владимир Георгиевич (Russian, 1878 – 1971) – artist. Other titles: Daphnis and Chloe (en), Daphnis et Chloé (fr), Daphnis und Chloe (de), Dafnis y Cloe (es),  Gli amori pastorali di Dafni e Cloe (it).    
  • Title page: THE | VISION; | OR | HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE, | OF | DANTE ALIGHIERI. | TRANSLATED BY | THE REV. HENRY FRANCIS CARY, A. M. | IN THREE VOLUMES. | THE SECOND EDITION CORRECTED. | WITH THE LIFE OF DANTE, ADDITIONAL NOTES, | AND AN INDEX. | VOL. I. (–II, –III.) | — | LONDON: | PRINTED FOR | TAYLOR AND HESSEY, FLEET STREET. | 1819. || Pagination: (I) [2] – t.p. / blank, [4] – preface, [2] – contents / blank, [2] – errata / blank, [i] ii-lii – life of Dante, [1-3] 4-303+colophon [304 blank]; (II) [2] – t.p. / blank, [v] vi-xi [xii blank] – chronological view, [1-3] 4-309 [310 colophon]; (3) [2] – t.p. / blank, [1-3] 4-297 [298 blank], [28 index, colophon]; as called for by Royal Academy. Collation: 8vo; (1) π5 b-d8 e2 B-U8; (2) π5 B-U8 X2 Y1; (3) π1 B-U8 X8 X3. Binding: 22 x 14 cm each, three volumes uniformly bound by Morrell (stamp-signed on FEP verso) in slightly marbled polished calf, gilt dentelle border to boards and inside, gilt ornamental spine with red morocco labels, peacock marbled endpapers, extra vergé flyleaves in front and back, AEG. Edition: 2nd, corrected. The 1st edition was published by J. Barfield in 1814. Contributors: Dante Alighieri (Italian, 1265 – 1321) – author. Henry Francis Cary (British, 1772 – 1844) – translator. James Augustus Hessey (British, 1785 – 1870), Taylor and Hessey (London) – publisher. Thomas Miller (British, fl. 1815 – 1819) – printer.
  • Front wrapper (in black and blue): PAUL MORAND | L'EUROPE | GALANTE | QUINZE LITHOGRAPHES | HORS TEXTE ORIGINALES | DE VERTÈS | {vignette} | LE MIROIR DES MŒURS | LES ARTS ET LE LIVRE | =| M. CM. XXVII || Title-page (in black and blue): PAUL MORAND | L'EUROPE | GALANTE | ORNÉ DE QUINZE | LITHOGRAPHES ORIGINALES | PAR VERTÈS | {vignette} | LE MIROIR DES MŒURS | LES ARTS ET LE LIVRE | 17 Rue Froidevaux (XIVe) | =| M. CM. XXVII || Pagination: [1-9] 10-245 [7], and 2 leaves under the wrappers, ils. Collation: 8vo; [1]8 2-168; first and last leaves under wrappers; total 128 leaves and 17 plates extraneous to collation (two more than the declared 15). Binding: 20.5 x 14.5, French flapped tan wrappers with lettering and vignette, lettering to spine. Printed on May 30, 1927 at l'Imprimerie du Livre, Rueil (Henri Filipacchi, director); under supervision of Georges-Célestin Crès. Edition: 3rd book is the series "Le miroir des mœurs", limited to 1165 copies of which 65 on Papier d'Annam, 15 of them not for sale, numbered 1-50 and 51-65, respectively; 1100 copies on Vélin teinté de Rives (100 of them not for sale), numbered 66-1065 and 1066-1165, respectively. This copy is № 474. Contributors: Paul Morand (French, 1888 – 1976) – author. Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist. Les arts et le livre; Georges-Célestin Crès (French, 1875 – 1935) – publisher. l'Imprimerie du Livre (Rueil); Henri Élie Michel Filipacchi [Flippaki] (French, 1900 – 1961) – printer. Other names: Marcel Vertès, Marcel Vertes, Marcell Vértes
  • Title page: DIALOGUE AUX ENFERS | ENTRE | MACHIAVEL | ET MONTESQUIEU | OU LA POLITIQUE DE MACHIAVEL | AU XIXe SIÈCLE, | PAR UN CONTEMPORAIN. | {6 lines of citations} | ~ | BRUXELLES, | IMPRIMERIE DE A. MERTENS ET FILS, | RUE DE L’ESCALIER, 22. | 1864 ||

    Description: 18.5 x 12 cm, quarter red morocco over marbled boards, spine with raised bands ruled blind, gilt lettering, marbled endpapers.

    Collation: 12mo; fep, 3 blanks, π4 1-2712, 292, 3 blanks, fep.; total 180 leaves. Pagination: [6] [2 h.t] [2 t.p.] [i] ii-iii [iv] [1] 2-337 [338] [2 errata] [6]. Bookplate to front pastedown: “Le Mis de Biencourt” (probably Mademoiselle Anna Charles de Biencourt). See other copies: LIB-2913.2021 and LIB-0460.2015. Other related objects: SVVP-0062.2021. The publication was funded by the author and smuggled into France. Contributors: Maurice Joly (French, 1829 – 1878)  
  • Title: NIEUWE KAART | der platte Grond van de Stad | PARYS | en derzelver Voorsteden. | Met aanwyzing van de Kwartieren, Staaten, | Markten, Pleinen, Paleizen, Abtyden, Kerken, | Kloosters en andere voornaame Gebouwen. | Na het Origineel van | M. DE LA GRIVE. | Te Amsterdam by | I. Tirion. | 1756. ||

    Author : Jean Delagrive (French, 1689-1757)

    Publisher: Isaak Tirion (Dutch, 1705 – 1765)

    Publication date: 1756.

    Dimensions: Sheet: 42.5 x 53.8 cm; Image: 30.7 x 37.7 cm.

    Plate № 59 from Beknopte Atlas van omtrent honderd platte gronden der voornaamste vestingen, kasteelen en Steden van Europa.
  • Description: Limited softcover edition in grey publisher’s wrappers 27 x 21 cm, lettered in a frame “MICHEL VOKAER | BIBLIOGRAPHIE | de | Marcel VERTÈS | PREFACE DE CLAUDE ROGER-MARX | Avec quatre dessins inédits de Vertès | — | EMILE RELECOM | BRUXELLES ||, lettered spine, pp. [1-4 h.t., t.p.] 5-34 [35, 36 blanks] [37 limitation] [38 blank] [39 colophon] [40 blank]; 40 pages total plus 4 photomechanical reproductions of Vertès’ unpublished drawings on glossy paper, extraneous to collation. Catalogue of 82 entries. Received uncut. Title-page: similar to front wrapper, plus «1967» in the bottom under BRUXELLES. Limitation: 7 copies (A-G) on Japon chamois + 2 suites of plates, 25 copies (1-25) on Hollande Van Gelder + 1 suite of plates, 450 copies (26-475)  on offset Arduenna, and 40 copies not hor sale (I-XL) on different papers. The total print run is 522 copies, of which this is № 206. Ref: leslibraires.fr Contributors: Michel Vokaer (Belgian, 20th century) – author. Claude Roger-Marx (Jewish-French, 1888 – 1977) – author. Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist. Xavier Gustave Emile Relecom (Belgian, 1900 – 1977) – publisher.
  • An uncut fan print showing a young woman checking her makeup in a mirror from the series The pride of Edo [江戸じまん] (Edo jiman). The head portrait in the red circle is of kabuki actor Danjūrō VII. Ichikawa Danjūrō VII [市川団十郎] (Japanese, 1791 – 1859); other names: Ichikawa Ebizō V, Ichikawa Hakuen II, Ichikawa Shinnosuke I. Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代 歌川 豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Publisher: Ibaya Kyūbei [伊場屋 久兵衛] (Japanese, fl. 1804 – 1851). Artists signature: Ōkō Kunisada ga [應好国貞画] (Drawn to satisfy the taste of Kunisada) Publisher’s seal:久 – Ibakyū [伊場久]. Censor's seal: Kiwame; date seal: Bunsei 10 (1827). Saze: Aiban uchiwa-e; 23.2 x 28.9 cm. Ref.: [LIB-2967.2022] Utagawa Kunisada (1786 – 1865): His world revisited / Catalogue № 17, Exhibition March 17-21, 2021. — NY: Sebastian Izzard, LLC., 2021; p. 102, Cat. 28–fig. a.
  • Description: Large volume collated in 4to, 33 x 25 cm, ¾ navy morocco bordered with a gilt double-fillet over marbled boards, raised bands, floral gilt arabesque in compartments, gilt lettering to spine, gilt endpapers, T.E.G. Text printed on wave paper watermarked “Whatman Turkey Mill 1884”; etchings printed on laid paper 32.2 x 24.3 cm, 20 x 13 platemark, 17 x 11 cm image; etched head- and tailpieces, initials. Printed on November 1, 1885. Title-page: CATULLE MENDÈS | — | LES | îles d'Amour | Avec six Eaux-Fortes et trente-huit Dessins originaux | DE | G. FRAIPONT | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | BIBLIOTHÈQUE DES DEUX MONDES | L. FRINZINE & Cie, ÉDITEURS | 1, Rue Bonaparte, 1 | – | M D CCC LXXXVI || Collation: 4to; π4, 1-114 122, total 50 leaves, two binder’s flyleaves in the front and in the back, and 6 plates extraneous to collation. Pagination: [i-v] vi-vii [viii] [1-3] 4-85 [86] [6], total 100 pages, ils. Limitation (printed in red and balck): 1000 copies on vergé (№ 1-1,000), 25 copies on Whatman (№ I-XXV), 15 copies on Japon Impérial (marked A-O). This is copy № III, signed by the publisher. Contributors: Catulle Mendès (French, 1841 – 1909) – author. Gustave Fraipont (Belgian-French, 1849 – 1923) – artist. Charles Unsinger (French, 1823 – 1891) – printer.
  • A hardcover pictorial album, 25 x 25.5 cm, bound in black buckram with silver lettering to spine, in pictorial dust jacket; pp.: [1-6] 7-175 [176 blank], total 88 leaves, illustrated in colour throughout. Title-page: Shunga | EROTIC ART | IN JAPAN | ROSINA BUCKLAND | THE BRITISH MUSEUM PRESS || Subject: Art, Japanese – Edo period, 1600-1868; Erotic art – Japan; Prints, Japanese – History. Contributor: Rosina Buckland (British, b. 1974)
  • Softcover, pictorial wrappers, square 21 x 21 cm, 42 leaves, unpaginated, with illustrations in colour, 83 entries, with price list laid in; limited edition of 700 copies. Contributor: Israel Goldman In this collection:

    JPD-0010.2016: Mori Sosen. Ink and colour on silk.

    JPD-0009.2016: Mori Sosen. Ink and colour on silk.

    SVJP-0301.2019: Kunisada, 1852. Bando Shuka I as Shirai Gonpachi.

  • Iron tsuba of round form, slightly convex, decorated with persimmon (kaki), simplified Genji-kō (incense game symbol) and halves of plum blossoms (ume) in brass inlay on both sides, and with part of bellflower (kikyo) in openwork. Outer rim, seppa-dai, bellflower openwork, and kozuka-ana outlined with brass inlay; traces of lacquer to surface. The symbolic meaning alludes to Chapter 20: Asagao (朝顔, the bellflower or "morning face") of Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (11th century AD). The events take place in the 9th lunar month (Nagatsuki) and involve the following poetry by Prince Genji: saku hana ni / utsuru chō na wa / tsutsumedomo / orade sugiuki / kesa no asagao [I would not have it said / that my heart has turned toward / a flower in bloom — / yet how hard it is to pass / without plucking a “morning face”!]. Measurements: H: 76.6 mm; W: 76.3 mm; Th.: 3.6 mm (seppa-dai), 3.0 mm (rim) Time: Late Muromachi (1514 – 1573).
  • Iron tsuba of the round form (maru gata) with a grey patina pierced with the design of slanting rays of light (Jesuit’s IHS symbol) and a pair of ginger symbols [茗荷] (myōga) at top and bottom, in positive silhouette (ji-sukashi). This design is often called “tokei” [時計] or “clock gear”. Rounded rim, large hitsu-ana, copper fittings (sekigane). Unsigned, unpapered. Owari school. Early Edo period, early 17th century.

    Size: H 71.9 x W 71.1 x Th (centre) 5.5 cm.

    For information regarding this type of tsuba see the article 'Kirishitan Ikenie Tsuba by Fred Geyer at Kokusai Tosogu Kai; The 2nd International Convention & Exhibition, October 18-23, 2006, pp. 84-91. ​

    IHS emblem of the Jesuits

    茗荷 Myoga or Japanese ginger

     
  • A book about the history and collections of The Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg during the October revolution of 1917. Paperback, 20 x 12.5 cm, 16mo, serial pictorial wrappers, blurb to rear; [1]-716 88( plates, not paginated) 9-1016; pp.: [2] 3-260 [4]: 264 pages + 16 pages of plates, not paginated, 152 leaves, incl. plates. Library pocket and card to front wrapper verso. Ink stamp of the Hermitage museum library. Title-page: «БМР» device // библиотека | молодого | рабочего | — | С. ВАРШАВСКИЙ | Б. РЕСТ | БИЛЕТ | НА ВСЮ | ВЕЧНОСТЬ | ПОВЕСТЬ ОБ ЭРМИТАЖЕ | В ТРЕХ ЧАСТЯХ | ЧАСТИ ПЕРВАЯ И ВТОРАЯ | ЛЕНИЗДАТ • 1986 || Sergei Petrovich Varshavsky [Сергей Петрович Варшавский] (Jewish-Russian, 1906 – 1980). B. Rest [Б. Рест; Юлий Исаакович Шапиро] (Jewish-Russian, fl. 1940 – 1980). Preface: Boris Piotrovsky [Борис Борисович Пиотровский] (Russian, 1908 – 1990).
  • Description: Softcover, original blue-grey wrappers, maroon fleuron to front wrapper « P.L. {copulating couple} 1897.  », 28.5 x 23 cm, in a grey double slipcase. Pp.: [1-10] 11-192 [2] [6 blanks], total 200 pages, 50 folio leaves folded in half collated in 4to, unbound, plus 16 coloured lithographs by Jean Berque; all printed on wove paper watermarked “LANA”. This is № 207 of an undisclosed number of copies. Edition enriched with a suite of 12 hand-coloured etchings after Éduard Chimot for publication in the late 1940s (Dutel 2524) on BFK Rives paper. Title-page (maroon and black): P. L. | TROIS | FILLES | DE LEUR | MÈRE | {fleuron} | A L'ENSEIGNE DU CHAT POUR CHAT | M DCCC XCVII || Catalogue raisonné: Dutel 2523, Pia 1340. Contributors: Pierre Louÿs (French, 1870 – 1925) – author. Jean Berque (French, 1896 – 1954) – artist. Édouard Chimot (French, 1880 – 1959) – artist.
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Pubisher (accorfding to Suzuki & Oka): Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, 1815 – 1869), Dansendō [伊場仙]. Title: Beauty holding a roll of paper (by seller); A woman of Edo (by Suzuki & Oka) Date seal and aratame censor seal: 1822 (Bunsei 5). Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga [五渡亭国貞画]. Media: Untrimmed fan print (uchiwa-e), 228 x 295 mm. Ref: [LIB-3085.2022] Jūzō Suzuki, Isaburō Oka. “The decadents”. — Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1969, p. 35, plate 30: exactly this print:  
  • Paperback, 21.2 x 13.6 cm, dark blue pictorial covers with white lettering, pp.: [2] 3-316 [4]. Title-page: Рав. Й.-Д. Соловейчик | И СТАНЕТЕ ИСКАТЬ | ОТТУДА… | Перевод Мириам Китросской | Памяти | Миши Шнейдера и Лены Гальпериной | {publisher’s device} | Иерусалим 5782 (2022) || Contributors: Иосеф Дов-Бер ха-Леви Соловейчик [יוסף דב הלוי סולובייצ'יק‏‎, Joseph Dov-Ber Soloveitchik) (Jewish-American, 1903 – 1993) Мириам Китросская [Miriam Kitrossky] (Israeli, b. 1957)
  • Description: Softcover, French flapped wrappers, 19.7 x 14.5 cm, printed on thick wove paper watermarked “J. PERRIGOT ARCHES MBM”; engraved vignette by Foujita to t.p.; some pages towards the end uncut. Illustrated by ten original watercolours, unsigned. Collation: Pink wrappers, lettered to front, in frame: “P. L. |—| PYBRAC |—| 1927”, 2 blank leaves (one in wrapper), [2] h.t./blank, [2] t.p. in red and black with engraved vignette by Foujita / blank, [2] (Sur la chemise...), [2] f.t. / watercolour on reverse, [5] 6-98 [2 colophon/blank], 2 blank leaves (one in wrapper). Title-page (red and black): PIERRE LOUŸS | PYBRAC | POESIES | {vignette} | CYTHÈRE | AU COQ HARDI || Edition: Limited edition of 105 copies, of which this is copy № 28 on Arches paper, unique as enhanced with 10 colour drawings by an anonymous artist, presumably by Feodor Rojankovsky (dit Rojan), a unique copy. Cat. raisonné: Dutel III № 2278 p. 334; Dutel describes two unique copies of the edition, one with 6 and another with 24 original watercolours by Rojan. Contributors: Pierre Louÿs (French, 1870 – 1925) – author. Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita (Japanese-French, 1886 – 1968) – artist (t.p. vignette). Feodor Rojankovsky [Rojan, Фёдор Степанович Рожанковский] (Russian-American, 1891 – 1970). René Bonnel (French, 1884 – 1975) – publisher. Another unique copy of the same edition illustrated by an anonymous artist in this collection LIB-3061.2022.
  • Hardcover volume, 24.5 x 17.5 cm, bound in black buckram with blind barbed wire design and silver lettering to front cover and spine, pp.: [2] 3-799 [800]. Одеський мартиролог: Данi про репресованих Одеси i Одеськоï областi за роки радянськоï  влады (Серiя «Реабiлiтованi iсторiэю») (Том 2) / Уклад.: Л. В. Ковальчук, Г. О. Разумов— Одеса : ОКФА, 1999. Title-page: Научно-документальная серия книг | «РЕАБИЛИТИРОВАННЫЕ ИСТОРИЕЙ» | ОДЕССКИЙ | МАРТИРОЛОГ | ТОМ 2 | Одесса | ОКФА | 1999 || ISBN: 966-571-035-4 Print run: 1,000 copies. Ковальчук, Лидия Всеволодовна Разумов, Георгий Александрович
    Pages 515-531. 13. Постановление помощника уполномоченного Одесского окружного отдела ГПУ Найдмана по делу сотрудников Индо-Европейского телеграфа, репрессированных в 1927 г. по обвинению в шпионаже. […] ВАРШАВСКОЙ Эльзы Филипповны, 45 лет, уроженицы г. Одессы, по национальности – еврейка, происходит из купеческой семьи, подданства УССР, образования среднего, замужняя, не судившаяся, беспартийная, в союзе не состоит, без профессии, проживавшая по ул. Хмельницкого в д. № 18, в совершении преступлений, предусмотренных ст. 54-6 УК УССР, нашел: […] Note: ст. 54-6 — шпигунство: позбавлення волі на строк не менш як 3 роки, з конфіскацією всього або частини майна, аж до вищого заходу соціального захисту — розстрілу.
  • Hardcover volume, 35 x 26.8 cm, bound in grey cloth, blind stamped characters to front, brown characters to spine, in a double slipcase, the outer case pictorial paper over cardboard, 36 x 28.2 cm, pp.: [4] [1] 2-144 (plates with photographs of 332 items), [2] 147-182 [4]. 鍋島 – Nabeshima – book title. 日本の陶磁 – Japanese ceramics, series title. Contributors: Yasunari Kawabata [川端 康成] (Japanese, 1924 – 1972) – author. Tetsuzo Tanikawa [谷川 徹三] (Japanese, 1895 – 1989) – author. Seizo Hayashiya [林屋晴三] (Japanese, 1928 – 2017) – editor. Chūōkōron-sha [中央公論社] – publisher.
  • Hardcover volume 28.5 x 20.8 cm, quarter brown morocco over marbled boards, ruled in gilt, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, gilt lettering, marbled endpapers, top margin gilt, original lithographic wrappers designed by A. Willette preserved; pp.: [4] h.t., t.p., [1] 2-350 [2], 300 b/w ils in-text and 12 coloured photomechanical reproductions extraneous to collation; collated in-4o: π2 1-444; Title-page: L'ART DU RIRE | ET DE | LA CARICATURE | PAR ARSÈNE ALEXANDRE | 300 FAC-SIMILÉS EN NOIR ET 12 PLANCHES EN COULEURS | D’APRÈS LES ORIGINAUX | {vignette} | PARIS | ANCIENNE MAISON QUANIN | LIBRAIRIES-IMPRIMERIES RÉUNIES | 7, RUE ST-BENOIT | MAY & MOTTEROZ, DIRECTEURS || Contributors : Librairie-Imprimerie réunies (Paris, 1880-1908) – publisher. Arsène Alexandre (French, 1859 – 1937) – author. Adolphe Willette (French, 1857 – 1926) – artist (wrapper)
  • Three volumes, 33 x 26.5 x 7 cm each, uniformly bound in 2/3 vellum over marbled boards, outlined with gilt fillet, brown label with gilt lettering to flat spine with double fillet faux-bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, other untrimmed, publisher’s wrappers preserved, incl. spine; collotype plates with captioned glassine guards; armorial bookplate of Comte Alain de Suzannet to front pastedown in each volume. Two volumes of Première partie, wanting, contain La vie artistique : texte and La vie artistique : planches. Title-page (red and black): JACQUES CALLOT | PAR | J. LIEURE | Introduction de F. Courboin | Conservateur du Cabinet des Estampes à la Bibliothèque Nationale | — | DEUXIÈME PARTIE | CATALOGUE DE L’ŒUVRE GRAVÉ | TOME I (II, III) | — | PARIS | ÉDITIONS DE LA GAZETTE DES BEAUX-ARTS | 106, Boulevard Saint-Germain (6e) | 1924 (1927, 1927) || Vol. 1 (1924): [4] [1] 2-122 [2], wrappers, plates 1-299; printed on September 15, 1924, by André Lesot (Nemours) and D. Jacomet et Cie (Paris). Vol. 2 (1927): [4] [1] 2-106 [2], wrappers, plates 300-652. Vol. 3 (1927): [4] [1] 2-128 [4], wrappers, plates 653-1428; printed on September 5, 1926, by Imprimerie moderne des Beaux-Arts (Bois-Colombes) and D. Jacomet et Cie (Paris). Contributors: Jules Lieure (French, 1866 – 1948) – author. Jacques Callot (French, c. 1592 – 1635) – artist. Gazette des Beaux-Arts (f. 1859) – publisher. François Courboin (French, 1865 – 1926) – author. D. Jacomet et Cie (Paris) – printer. Daniel Jacomet (French, 1894 – 1966) – printer. André Lesot (French, 1874-1951) – printer. Imprimerie moderne des Beaux-Arts (Bois-Colombes) Comte Alain de Suzannet (French, 1882 – 1950) – provenance.
  • Lithography and etching on wove paper432 x 362 mm, black ink stamp “5022” to reverse, horizontal and vertical centrefolds. Depicts Diogenes (Ancient Greek, 412/404 – 323 BC) beside his barrel and extinguishing his torch when approached by Napoléon III ahorseback. Top: "1857 | HONNEUR ET PATRIE"; lettering on ribbons (top-down): SCIENCES, TRAVAIL, COMMERCE, ARTS, CHARPENTIERS, IMPRIMEURS, "MECHANICIENS, AGRICULTEURS, MAÇONS, FONDEURS, TERRASIERS, CIZELEURS, CARRIERS, ORFEVRES, BIJOUTIERS, CHAPELIERS, MENUISIERS, VERRIERS, SERRURIERS, TAILLEURS, SELLIERS, POTIERS, PORCELAINIERS, CORDONNIERS, TISSERANDS, INDUSTRIE, COMMERCE | CALENDRIER DE L'ABEILLE | EMPIRE, FRANÇAIS. Below left: "lith. Barousse Cour du Comm. 11 et 12. Paris"; right: "Dépôt rue des Cannettes, 20. Paris"; bottom: "Et, pour trouver un homme, il quitte son tonneau, | Voyant Napoléon, – il éteint son flambeau!" [And, to find a man, he leaves his barrel, | Seeing Napoleon, – he extinguishes his torch!]. Six months on the left and six months on the right-hand side of the calendar, surrounding the image.
  • Watercolour on thick wove paper, unsigned. Attributed to Otto Rudolf Schatz (Austrian, 1900 – 1961). Size: 305 x 212 mm.
  • The right sheet of (optional) triptych: Geisha (Geiko) and kabuki actor Iwai Hanshirō V as Katanaya Hanshichi from Three pleasures of present-day Osaka (Tōsei Naniwa no sankō)「当世浪花の三興 芸子」 「刀屋半七」五代目岩井半四郎. Publisher: Iseya Rihei [伊勢屋利兵衛] (Japanese, fl. 1790s – c. 1879) Year: 1821 (Bunsei 4). Size: Vertical ōban; 36.5 x 25.2 cm. Signed: 於浮瀬亭国貞画 – Drawn by Kunisada in Ukabuse (Ukabuse ni oite Kunisada ga). Ukabuse is the name of a famous restaurant in Osaka, this signature can be found only on a three print bijin series [Kunisada Project]. Censor's seal: kiwame 改印:極 Actor Iwai Hanshirō V [岩井半四郎] (Japanese, 1776 – 1847); other names: Iwai Tojaku, Iwai Kumesaburō I. Character: Katanaya Hanshichi  [刀屋半七] Ref: MFA ACCESSION NUMBER 11.21938LIB-2967.2022 Izzard. Full series (triptych) Three Pleasures of Present-day Osaka (Tōsei Naniwa no sankō):
  • Л. Ф. Лосев. История античной эстетики. Итоги тысячелетнего развития: В 2-х книгах. Книга I. - М.: Искусство, 1992. -- 656 с. ISBN 5-210-02464-4 (кн. 1)

  • Torii Kiyomitsu II (Kiyomine), Japanese, 1787–1868. Courtesan and her Komura (Doll Festival). Series: Furyu Goyo no Matsu (Customs of 5 Pine Needles, the 5 great festivals). Publisher: Tsuruya Kiemon [Marks: 553].  
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi [西村屋与八] (Japanese, fl. c. 1751 – 1860), seal name: Eijudō. Date: c. 1821–22 (Bunsei 4–5) Size: Ōban tate-e triptych, each sheet 36.8 x 26.4 cm. Signed: 五渡亭国貞画 – Gototei Kunisada ga (on center sheet). Censor’s seal: kiwame 改印: 極 A view of the dressing room of a Theater in Dōtonbori, Ōsaka (Ōsaka Dōtonbori shibai gakuya no zu): Right sheet: Actors Bandō Mitsuemon I, Asao Tamejūrō III, Ichikawa Danzō V, Nakamura Utaemon III, Bandō Mitsugorō III (in a costume of Matsuômaru), Kiriyama Monji III, Nakamura Utashichi II, Arashi Shôroku IV, Nakamura Matsue III, Matsumoto Kōshirō V, Ichikawa Komazō V. Centre sheet: Arashi Mitsugorō III, Mimasu Daigorō III, Nakayama Bunshichi III, Ichikawa Ichizō II, Bandō Minosuke II, Ichikawa Omezō I, Arashi Kitsusaburō I, Nakamura Utaroku I, Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Ōtani Tomoemon III, Asao Yūjirō I. Left sheet: Asao Kuzaemon I, Arashi Hidenosuke III, Sawamura Gennosuke II, Iwai Ōginosuke, Sawamura Kunitarō II, Iwai Matsunosuke I, Ichikawa Sōzaburō IV, Iwai Hanshirō V (in a costume of Sakuramaru), and Ichikawa Shinzō III (L). The actors are making up for a performance of the “Carriage-Stopping” scene from Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami (Sugawara Denju and the Secrets of Calligraphy). References: MFA Accession №: 11.43384a-c; Catalogue Raisonné: Izzard, Kunisada’s World (1993), #34; Hizô Ukiyo-e taikan/Ukiyo-e Masterpieces in European Collections 5, Victoria and Albert Museum II (1987), pl. 22; Keyes, PMA Osaka cat. (1973), #250 and pl. 15 (The theatrical world of Osaka prints, by Roger S. Keyes and Keiko Mizushima, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1973), pp. 70-71); Izzard, Kunisada's world revisited, 2021; V&A Accession № E.5995-1886. Kabuki actors on this print: Arashi Hidenosuke III [嵐秀之助] (Japanese, fl. 1794 – 1837); other names: Arashi Koshichi IV, Arashi Hinasuke IV, Arashi Sanjūrō VI, Kanō Hidenosuke II, Kanō Umetarō, Arashi Iwajirō III. Arashi Kitsusaburō I [嵐橘三郎] (Japanese, 1769 – 1821); other names: Arashi Kichisaburō II, Arashi Rikan I. Arashi Mitsugorō III (Japanese, ? – ?) Arashi Shōroku IV [四代目嵐小六] (Japanese, 1783 – 1826) Asao Kuzaemon I [浅尾工左衛門] (Japanese, 1758 – 1824); other names: Asai Kuzaemon Nakayama Tashirō II Takeda Nisaburō. Asao Tamejūrō III [三代目淺尾爲十郎] (Japanese, 1780 – 1836); other names: Asao Okuyama III, Asao Okuyama III, Asao Tomozō I. Asao Yūjirō I [浅尾勇次郎] (Japanese, 1782 – 1835); other names: Jitsukawa Gakujūrō I, Asao Gakujūrō, Nakamura Yaozō, Asao Yaozō. Bandō Minosuke II [坂東蓑助] (Japanese, 1802 – 1863); other names: Morita Kan'ya XI, Bandô Mitsugorō IV. Bandō Mitsuemon I [坂東三津右衛門] (Japanese, 1788 – 1846); other names: Bandō Kumahei [坂東熊平]. Bandō Mitsugorō III [三代目 坂東 三津五郎] (Japanese, 1775 – 1831); other names: Bandō Minosuke I, Morita Kanjirô II, Bandō Mitahachi I, Bandō Minosuke I, Bandō Mitahachi I. Ichikawa Danzō V [市川団蔵] (Japanese, 1788 – 1845); other names: Ichikawa Shikō I, Ichikawa Danzaburō IV, Ichikawa Danjirō I, Ichikawa Morinosuke I. Ichikawa Ichizō II [市川市蔵] (Japanese, 1806 – 1829); other names Ichikawa Ebijūrō II, Ichikawa Sukezō I. Ichikawa Komazō V [市川高麗蔵] (Japanese, 1812 – 1849); other names: Matsumoto Kinshō I, Matsumoto Kōshirō VI, Matsumoto Kinshi. Ichikawa Omezō I [市川男女蔵] (Japanese, 1781 – 1833); other names: Ichikawa Benzō II, Ichikawa Bennosuke. Ichikawa Shinzō III [市川新蔵] (Japanese, 1793 – 1837); other names: Ichikawa Sumizō III, Nakayama Tomisaburô II, Nakayama Kinsha, Nakayama Tomisaburō II, Ichikawa Komazō IV, Ichikawa Santarō. Ichikawa Sōzaburō IV (Japanese, ? – ?) Iwai Hanshirō V [岩井半四郎] (Japanese, 1776 – 1847); other names: Iwai Tojaku, Iwai Kumesaburō I. Iwai Matsunosuke I [岩井松之助] (Japanese, 1804 – 1845); other names: Iwai Hanshirō VII, Iwai Shijaku I, Iwai Komurasaki I. Iwai Ōginosuke (Japanese, ? – ?) Kataoka Nizaemon VII [七代目片岡仁左衛門] (Japanese, 1755 – 1837); other names: Yamazawa Kunigorō, Asao Kunigorō II, Nakamura Matsusuke. Kiriyama Monji III [桐山紋治] (Japanese, fl. c. 1803 – 1830); other names: Ichikawa Takigorō. Matsumoto Kōshirō V [五代目松本幸四郎] (Japanese, 1764-1838); other names: Ichikawa Komazô III, Ichikawa Sumizô I. Mimasu Daigorō III [三枡大五郎] (Japanese, 1782 – 1824); other names: Mimasu Seibē, Yoshizawa Kamezō. Nakamura Matsue III [三代目中村松江] (Japanese, 1786-1855); other names: Nakamura Sankō I, Nakamura Tomijūrō II, Ichikawa Kumatarō. Nakamura Utaemon III [中村歌右衛門] (Japanese, 1778 – 1838); other names: Nakamura Tamasuke, Nakamura Baigyoku I, Nakamura Shikan I, Kagaya Fukunosuke I. Nakamura Utaroku I (Japanese, ? – ?) Nakamura Utashichi II (Japanese, ? – ?) Nakayama Bunshichi III [三代目目中山文七] (Japanese, 1764 – 1853); other names: Nakayama Hyakka, Nakayama Hyōtarō I, Nakayama Tokusaburō. Ōtani Tomoemon III [大谷友右衛門] (Japanese, 1793–1839); other names: Arashi Shagan IV, Arashi Sanpachi II, Nakayama Monzaburō. Sawamura Gennosuke II [沢村源之助](Japanese, 1802/7 – 1853); other names: Suketakaya Takasuke III, Sawamura Chōjūrō V, Sawamura Sōjūrō V, Sawamura Tosshō I, Sawamura Genpei I. Sawamura Kunitarō II [沢村国太郎](Japanese, 1798 – 1836); other names: Ogino Kinshi, Ogino Yaegiri III, Ogino Kamekichi, Izumikawa Kamekichi.
  • Kyo-sukashi iron tsuba of round form with design of hollyhock (aoi ) and wild geese. Slightly rounded rim. Copper sekigane. Momoyama period, late 16th - early 17th century. Height: 82.6 mm, Width: 82.1 mm, Thickness at seppa-dai: 4.5 mm. NTHK (Nihon Token Hozon Kai) certified.  
  • Woodblock print album of thirteen prints, ōban, nishiki-e. Artist: Chōkyōsai Eiri [鳥橋斎 栄里] (Japanese, fl. c. 1789 ~ 1801 ). Models of calligraphy (Fumi no kiyogaki), New Year 1801. This title is taken from Chris Uhlenbeck's Japanese Erotic Fantasies Sexual Imagery of the Edo Period. — Hotei Publishing, 2005, ISBN 90-74822-66-5):. A detailed description of the album can be found at The Complete Ukiyo-e Shunga №9 Eiri, 1996, ISBN 4-309-91019. Most of the edition is in Japanese, though Richard Lane writes a section in English: Eiri: Love-letters, Love Consummated: Fumi-no-kiyogaki. The article starts with the following statement: "Why all the fuss about Sharaku? Because he is so "mysterious"? No, not at all: because he is such a good artist. But Sharaku is not the only great yet enigmatic ukiyo-e artist and I propose to resurrect here one of his important contemporaries who has been all too long neglected: Chōkyōsai Eiri. As with many of the notable ukiyo-e masters, nothing is known of Eiri's biography. All we can say is what we learn from his extant prints and paintings: that he flourished during the second half of the Kansei Period [1789-1801]; and that he was a direct pupil of the great Eishi - who, being of eminent samurai stock, may well have attracted pupils of similar background." Another citation from Japanese Erotic Fantasies: "This album is one of the boldest sets of ōban-size shunga known, The first edition contains thirteen instead of the customary twelve designs". Here I present all thirteen prints, though the edition I bought in Kyoto in 2014 contained only twelve. The thirteenth print was purchased later in the United States (sheet №12). №1: "...one of the most exotic scenes in all shunga. A Dutch kapitan is discovered coupling with a lovely Japanese courtesan, beside a large window opening upon a garden...". №2: "...a fair young harlot is seen masturbating with a grinding-pestle - a man watches intently from under bedding." [I have two specimens of this design; the one from album is more soiled but less faded]. №3: "...the artist has effectively contrasted the lovers by depicting the man's face as seen through the geisha's gauze skirt. [...] we are impressed more by strikingly elegant composition, the dramatic coloring, rather than feeling any great urge to participate in the energetic proceedings..." №4: "This scene is a most straightforward one, featuring the standard Missionary Position [capitalization by R. Lane].; but withal, the contrast of the young and naked, secret lover and the richly-clothed courtesan amid luxurious bedding..." №5: "In a striking lesbian scene (which has no equivalent in Utamaro, and is, incidentally, often omitted in later editions of this album), the girl at left prepares to receive the harikata (dildo) worn by the older girl at right (who holds a seashell containing lubricant)." №6: "In the first appearance of a matronly heroine in this series, we find a widow - with shaven eyebrows and clipped hair - sporting with a handsome yound shop-clerk, mounting him with all her might." №7: "... lady of samurai court: here, shown taking advantage of an official outing to temple and theatre, to rendezvous with a secret lover on a teahouse balcony." R. Lane considers this design the least successful in the series, especially in comparison with the same theme by Utamaro: "Utamaro female is almost ferocious in her lust for sexual gratification", which does not sound true to me. See Utamaro's sheet №5 from the album Utamakura (歌まくら, Poem of the Pillow) [courtesy The British Museum without permission]: Then, as Richard Lane states, "we are flung suddenly to the bottom rung of Edo society": №8: "Here we find a fair yotaka ('night-hawk', e.i. streetwalker) accommodating a lusty client in a lumberyard by the bank of the Sumida River". №9: '... a slightly plump harlot of the lower class receives a night visit from her lover, whose naked form she tries to cover with a cloak." №10: "...likely maidservant and lackey - are depicted in bath-room, their passions are all too obviously fired by steaming water." №11: "...this scene of courtesan and secret lover ranks high not only in Eiri's œuvre but also in the annals of the ukiyo-e genre itself. Both design and colouring are impeccable and, for this period, there is nothing even in the work of great Utamaro that really surpasses it." Again, a doubtful statement, however, this is Utamaro's design for the reader to judge: The last design in my album is this: #13: In most reference books it goes under number 13, and we will assign this number to the sheet. "The final scene of the album features naked participants, probably samurai man and wife. The print is rather subdued in tone and colour, if not in the degree of the passion displayed..." An additional sheet, acquired separately from a reputable dealer in New York, is usually listed as №12: №12: "One might think that Eiri has reached his peak with the preceding plate 11 - and indeed he has, in both esthetic and erotic terms. But the album is not yet finished, and the next scene lends a needed variety to the series, a slightly comic tableau featuring a middle-aged lackey attempting to forcibly seduce a servant girl of the same domicile". Utamaro's design, that inspired Eiri is here: All descriptions are taken from Richard Lane's article at The Complete Ukiyo-e Shunga №9 Eiri, 1996. He concluded: "...Eiri's erotic series represents a major contribution to shunga art towards the close of ukiyo-e "Golden Age". In part inspired by Utamaro's classic album, this series withal constitutes a unified and original achievement, providing a cumulative effect of gracefully  elegant yet glowing eroticism, which remains in the mind's eye long after the pictures themselves are far away." I only would like to mention here that in several reference sources this album goes under name of Eisho; unfortunately, this mistake is reproduced at www.ukiyo-e.org, which miraculously shows exactly my print, but under the wrong name of the artist. The same mistake can be found at Shunga. The art of love in Japan. Tom and Mary Anne Evans. Paddington Press Ltd., 1975. ISBN 0-8467-0066-2; plates 6.74-6.77: Chōkyōsai Eishō, c. 1800. Even the British Museum edition of 2010 gives the same erroneous attribution: Chōkyōsai Eishō (1793-1801); they provide the following translation of title: "Clean Draft of a Letter" [see: Shunga. Erotic art in Japan. Rosina Buckland. The British Museum Press, 2010; pp. 110-112]. To the honour of the British Museum, I must admit that they have corrected themselves in Shunga. Sex and pleasure in Japanese art. Edited by Timothy Clark, et al. Hotei Publishing, 2013. Now, they say Chōkyōsai Eiri (worked c. 1790s-1801); they also provide a new title: "Neat Version of the Love Letter, or Pure Drawings of Female Beauty". I have already mentioned Richard Lane's version of title: "Love-letters, Love Consummated", and Chris Uhlenbeck's "Models of calligraphy". In poorly designed and printed Shunga. Erotic figures in Japanese art. Presented by Gabriele Mandel. Translated by Alison L'Eplattenier. Crescent Books, New York, 1983, the artist is named Shokyosai Eisho (beginning of the 19th century); title provided: "Models of Calligraphy". Correct attribution to Chōkyōsai Eiri also can be found at Poem of the pillow and other stories by Utamaro, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi and other artists of the floating world. Gian Carlo Calza in collaboration with Stefania Piotti. Phaidon Press, 2010; though the title is translated as "Clean Copy of Female Beauty".  
  • Circular form tsuba made by a mirror-maker, i.e. kagamishi. Cast yamagane plate with design of six persimmons on their peduncles surrounded by leaves. Slightly raised rounded square rim. Hitsu-ana is brutally cut later in time. Copper sekigane. Early Muromachi period (1393-1457) or earlier. The inscription on the box reads: "Kamakura or Muromachi Period. Yamagane Tsuba". Dimensions: 81.9 x 81.6 mm; thickness at seppa-dai 2.8 - 3.0 mm, rim 3.4 mm.
  • Iron tsuba of round form represents an eight-spoke Wheel-of-the-Law and in the same time (because of the inner shape of cut-outs) - a sixteen-petal imperial chrysanthemum in openwork (sukashi). Decorated on both sides with vines, leaves, and tendrils in suemon-zōgan and sen-zōgan. Spokes and hitsu-ana decorated with rope-like linear brass inlay (nawame-zōgan). A somewhat look-a-like tsuba is referenced in Gary D. Murtha's Japanese Sword Guards. Onin-Heianjo-Yoshiro book on page 61. Mr. Murtha attributes his piece to Heianjo school of Azuchi-Momoyama or early Edo period. However, tsuba in this collection looks older and bolder than the one in his book. It is larger (84 mm vs. his 66 mm), the spokes are longer, the inlay is of better quality, it is relatively thin, with deep black patina, and with the traces of lacquer (urushi). This may indicate that this tsuba belongs to Ōnin school and dates at least to late Muromachi period, ca. 1550, if not 1450 AD. Mid to late Muromachi period (ca. 1450-1550). Dimensions: 84.3 x 83.2 x 3.2 mm "In Japan, the Wheel-of-the-Law is an attribute of such deities as  Senju Kannon, the Thousand-Armed Kannon, and Dainichi Nyorai, the principal deity of Shingon Buddhism [Merrily Baird]. May be used as a family crest (mon).

    Gary D. Murtha's tsuba on page 61.

     
  • Mokkō-form (kirikomi-mokkō-gata) iron plate of grey colour decorated on both sides with waves, reeds, cloud, pagoda, and thatched hut in low relief (sukidashi-bori). The kozuka-hitsu-ana is original, the kogai-hitsu-ana probably cut later (lacks raised rim, fuchidoru). Wide (5.7 mm) raised rim of rounded square dote-mimi type, decorated with fine cross-hatching. Momoyama period, 16th century. Dimensions: Height: 75.9 mm, width: 76.4 mm, Thickness at seppa-dai: 2.3 mm, at rim 4.4 mm. Kamakura-bori tsuba of such a form is unusual. The rim is also unusual; it is possible that cross-hatching was done as a preparatory step for damascening, or the the damascening (gold or silver) disappeared with passage of time.
  • Iron tsuba of square with cut-off edges form (sumi-iri-kakugata) with lattice design in openwork (sukashi) and pierced center.

    Unsigned. Late Muromachi period, ca. 16th century.

    Size: 73.2 x 72.4 x 3.6 mm References: 1) Tsuba Kanshoki. Kazutaro Torogoye, 1975, p. 95, lower image. It's also called Kyō shōami. 2) KTK-11: Koshi motif, Late Muromachi (16th c.)
  • Portrait of Russian actress Maria Gavrilovna Savina, a lithograph on tan paper, by artist Osip Braz, 1900.

    Maria Gavrilovna Savina (Мария Гавриловна Савина), a renowned Russian stage actress, born as Maria Podramentsova (Подраменцова) on April 11, 1854 in Kamianets-Podilskyi (Ukraine, Russian Empire) and died on September 21, 1915, in Saint Petersburg. Osip Emmanuilovich Braz (Осип Эммануилович Браз; 16 January 1873 in Odessa - 6 November 1936 near Paris) was a Russian painter of Jewish descent. Imprisoned by the Soviets in 1924 (the Solovki special prison-camp), released in 1926 and emigrated to Germany in 1928. Married to Lola Landshoff.  http://russia-ic.com/people/culture_art/b/805/ "All his family members suffered from severe tuberculosis. After losing his wife Lola Lantsgof and both sons, he spent the last year of his life alone. Osip Braz passed away on November 6, 1936, and was laid down to rest at the Bagneux Cemetery in Paris." Buried at Bagneux, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France.