SHIBATA ZESHIN 柴田是真 (1807–1891) TURTLES AND CRABS 徳若五万歳図絹本着色掛軸
Meiji era (1868–1912), circa 1880–1890
Hanging scroll, ink and colours on silk with silk mounts and wood jikusaki, depicting five turtles stacked in descending order of size, the lower three with long 'tails' of weed, four of them with expressions of astonishment or fear, bound with a silk cord tied in a bow with two large tassels, two crabs trying to undo the bow, one on top and the other pulling on one of the tassels; signed Zeshin 是真; seal: Tairyūkyo 對柳居
Overall: 166.5 × 43.8 cm (65½ × 17¼ in.)
Image: 86.4 × 26.9 cm (34 × 10 5/8 in.)
With modern fitted wood box and cardboard outer storage box (3)
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