Japanese Woodblock Surimono - Surimono are an exclusive subcategory of Japanese woodblock prints. Poetry clubs commissioned these designs for distribution to a small audience of members, most often as New Year's greetings. These privately published images included a wonderful range of subjects and lavish printing techniques such as embossing, burnishing, and metallic pigments. Since surimono were not sold commercially, the print runs were very small and original Edo era surimono are incredibly rare in the market today.

Treasures Given to Tawara Toda, 1820 - Incredible Edo era surimono image of some of the Dragon King's retainers carrying a large platform piled with gifts for the samurai Tawara Toda (Fujiwara no Hidesato). According to legend, Hidesato battled and killed an enormous centipede menacing the Dragon King, earning a reward of treasures and a never-empty bag of rice, which led to his nickname "Tawara Toda" (My Lord Bag of Rice). With fish and sea creatures atop their heads, the men wade through undulating water, the waves beautifully detailed with embossing and traces of silver pigment. A large bronze bell, a coral branch in a pot, rolls of fine fabrics, and the giant straw bale of rice fill the platform. A wonderful image from this famous tale. Includes silver and bronze colored metallic pigment on the intricately patterned robes and rolls of cloth, which have oxidized to darker tones. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this image in its collection.

Artist - Shinsai (circa 1764 - 1823)

Image Size - 7 3/4" x 6 7/8"

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. One small wormhole near edge, repaired. Rubbing, slight soiling. Please see photos for details. Good overall.