Two urushi (lacquer) fans paintings
By Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), late Edo Period
Both mounted on gofun-treated paper set within a wood frame, one decorated with five butterflies, painted in kuroshibori-urushi, suki-urushi (transparent lacquer) and yellow lacquer, the wings of the black butterfly decorated with two shippo-mon and the white markings on its thorax rendered in the hikkaki (scratch) technique; signed in black lacquer Zeshin sha; the second decorated with a small shrub of Autumnal wind-swept chrysanthemums and grasses, signed in black lacquer Zeshin with seal Zeshin in red lacquer; with wood storage box, together with two certificates of authentication by Shoji Chikushin and copy of the mokuroku from Tokyo Bijutsu Club auction held in 1917. Both paintings approx. 15.5cm x 49cm (6 1/8in x 19¼in), the frames 43cm x 63cm (17in x 24¾in). (6).
Both mounted on gofun-treated paper set within a wood frame, one decorated with five butterflies, painted in kuroshibori-urushi, suki-urushi (transparent lacquer) and yellow lacquer, the wings of the black butterfly decorated with two shippo-mon and the white markings on its thorax rendered in the hikkaki (scratch) technique; signed in black lacquer Zeshin sha; the second decorated with a small shrub of Autumnal wind-swept chrysanthemums and grasses, signed in black lacquer Zeshin with seal Zeshin in red lacquer; with wood storage box, together with two certificates of authentication by Shoji Chikushin and copy of the mokuroku from Tokyo Bijutsu Club auction held in 1917. Both paintings approx. 15.5cm x 49cm (6 1/8in x 19¼in), the frames 43cm x 63cm (17in x 24¾in). (6).
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£11,250
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Footnotes
- 扇面漆絵 (額装) 蝶・菊図 二枚 柴田是真筆 江戸時代後期
Published and illustrated: Takao Yo, Shibata Zeshin Seitan Nihyakunen-ten, Exhibition Catalogue, Gallery Chikuryudo, Tokyo, 2007, p.43, pl.38.
These same paintings were offered, without frames, at the auction held by Tokyo Bijutsu Club, Ito-ke shozo shoga nishiki-e utsuwamono nyusatsu (Auction of paintings, prints and vessels in the collection of the Ito family) in 1917, and with frames by the same auction house at To-shi boshishaku-ke Saitama-ken Watanabe-ke shozohin nyusatsu (Auction of the collection of an aristocratic family from the Watanabe branch in Saitama prefecture) in 1918.
The two certificates by Chikushin transcribe:
先師柴田是真筆、扇面漆絵蝶/菊 額面、真蹟無疑者也、荘司竹真識（有斎）
Senshi Shibata Zeshin hitsu, senmen urushi-e chou/kiku gakumen,
shinseki mugimono nari, Shoji Chikushin shiki (Yusai)
And translate:
This is without doubt a genuine lacquer fan painting of butterflies/chrysanthemums in a frame painted by my former master Shibata Zeshin. Recorded by Shoji Chikushin with seal Yusai.
Shoji Chikushin (1854-1936), a close pupil of Shibata Zeshin, was accustomed to authenticating his Master's works after his death. He was awarded a prize of merit at the Naikoku Kangyo Hakurankai (National Industrial Exposition) in Meiji 10 [1877].
Category: Asian Art / Japanese Art
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