Theatre

Shunkosai Hokushu (active circa 1810-32)

The complete set of Hits of a Lifetime of Kyogen (Issei ichidai atari kyogen), 1825

Each a woodblock print, embellished with embossing to the fans and metallic pigments
Each signed: 'Shunkosai Hokushu ga' (Pictured by Shunkosai Hokushu)
Each with red artist's seal: 'Hokushu' (hand-impressed)
Various publishers
Date: 1825, third month

Each vertical oban:
each approx. 38.3 x 25.5 cm. (15 x 10 in.)

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Shunkosai Hokushu (active circa 1810-32)

Actor Nakamura Utaemon III (Shikan) as Yakanbei from the series Contest of Fans of Today (Uchiwa tosei kurabe), 1824

Woodblock print, embellished with metallic pigments
Signed: Shunkosai Hokushu ga (Pictured by Shunkosai Hokushu)
Hand-impressed artist's seal: 'Shun'
Publisher: Toshikuraya Shinbei
Date: 1824, 5th month

Vertical oban:
38.4 x 25.4 cm. (15 ⅛ x 10 in.)

£ 1,200.00

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Shunkosai Hokushu (active circa 1810-32)

Actor Ichikawa Ebijuro I as Yokanbei, from the series Contest of Fans of Today (Uchiwa tosei kurabe), 1824

Woodblock print, embellished with metallic pigments
Signed: Shunkosai Hokushu ga (Pictured by Shunkosai Hokushu)
Hand-impressed artist's seal: 'Shun'
Publisher: Toshikuraya Shinbei
Date: 1824, 5th month

Vertical oban:
39.2 x 26.8 cm. (15 ⅜ x 10 ½ in.)

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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)

Actors Nakamura Shikan IV as Shinmon Tatsugoro and Onoe Kikugoro V as Kogane Ikojiro in the play Shinmon Tatsumi no Koganei , 1894

Woodblock print, triptych
Titled: 'Keio Suikoden'
Signed: 'Toyohara Kunichika hitsu' (to right sheet)
Publisher: Fukuda Kumajiro
Dated: 1894 (Meiji 27)

Oban triptych, each sheet:
37.2 x 25.7 cm. (14 ⅝ x 10 ⅛ in.)

£ 2,800.00

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Natori Shunsen (1886-1960)

Actor Onoe Shoroku II as Priest Tsuchigu (Onoe Shoroku, Priest Tsuchigu), from the series New Versions of Figures on the Stage (Shinpan butai no sugata-e), 1951

Woodblock print, mica background
Signed: 'Shunsen'
Artist's seal: 'Shunsen'
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo (red circular seal at bottom right corner)
Date: circa 1951

Vertical dai oban:
39.9 x 27.7 cm. (15 ¾ x 10 ⅞ in.)

£ 1,200.00

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Natori Shunsen (1886-1960)

The actor Ichikawa Jukai III as Kimura Nagato no Kami (Ichikawa Jukai, Kimura Nagato no Kami), from the series New Versions of Figures on the Stage (Shinpan butai no sugata-e), 1952

Woodblock print
Signed: 'Shunsen'
Artist's red maple leaf seal
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo (round Watanabe seal above right shoulder)
Date: circa 1952

Vertical dai oban:
40.5 x 27.4 cm. (16 x 10 ¾ in.)

£ 1,200.00

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Tsuruya Kokei (b. 1946)

Actor Nakamura Utaemon VI in the role of Tonase in the play The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers (Kanadehon chushingura), from the series Okubi-e (Bust Portraits, Series IV, Design 7), November 1984

Woodblock print on gampi paper, embellished with gofun (white pigment) on the face and hands and metallic pigments
Large red artist's seal: 'Tsuruya Kokei'
Hand-written ink inscription: 'nijukyu' [29] over red seal 'Yonjugo-hin' [item 45] [limited edition number 29/45]
Self-carved and self-printed
Date: November 1984

39.7 x 27 cm. (15 ⅝ x 10 ⅝ in.)

£ 800.00

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Tsuruya Kokei (b. 1946)

Actor Jitsukawa Enjaku III in the role of Kyusaku in the play Shinpan Utazaimon (Nozaki mura), from the series Bust Portraits VII (Design 5), July 1989

Woodblock print on gampi paper, embellished with metallic pigments
Large red artist's seal: 'Kokei no in'
Hand-written ink inscription: 'sanjuni' [32] over red seal 'Kyuju no uchi' [limited edition number 32/90]
Self-carved and self-printed
Date: July 1989

37.8 x 25.5 cm. (14 ⅞ x 10 in.)

£ 700.00

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Tsuruya Kokei (b. 1946)

Actor Onoe Baiko VII as Mokuzume in the play Tamamo no Mae Kumoi no Hareginu, from the series Bust Portraits IV (Design 6), October 1984

Woodblock print on gampi paper, embellished with gofun (white pigment) on the face and hands
Artist's large red seal: 'Tsuruya Kokei'
Hand-written ink inscription 'sanjuichi' [31] over red seal 'yonjugo-hin' [item 45] [limited edition number 31/45]
Self-carved and self-printed
Date: October 1984

39.6 x 27.3 cm. (15 ⅝ x 10 ¾ in.)

£ 800.00

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Katsukawa Shuntei (1770–1824)

Actors Segawa Kikunojo III and Ichikawa Yaozo III, 1799

Woodblock print, mica background
Signed: Shuntei ga
Publisher: Enomotoya Kichibei
Date: 1799

Vertical oban:
37 x 24.5 cm. (14 ⅝ x 9 ⅝ in.)

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Shunkosai Hokushu (active circa 1810-32)

The actors Nakamura Matsue III in the role of Otaka, Ichikawa Ebijuro I as Mokuemon, and Ichikawa Danzo V as Yashichi, 1824, 3rd month

Woodblock print, surimono on deluxe paper, embellished with metallic pigments and embossing

Vertical oban, diptych (each sheet):
39.2 x 26.3 cm. (15 ⅜ x 10 ⅜ in.)

£ 2,400.00

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Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865)

The actors Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Satomi Shurinosuke (R), Onoe Kikugoro III as the Ghosts of both the princess Fusehime and the dog Yatsufusa (C), and Ichikawa Ebizo V as Kanamari Daisuke (L), circa 1836

Woodblock print, triptych

Vertical oban, each sheet approx.:
37.2 x 26.4 cm. (14 ⅝ x 10 ⅜ in.)

£ 1,000.00

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