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. Many high-quality reprints of these great designs were published during the Meiji era.

A Special 1931 Group - These lovely prints come from a series of fifty classic surimono designs reprinted by the publisher Daito in 1931. Like the originals, many include deluxe embellishments, like embossing and metallic pigments. These fascinating and beautifully printed images continue to delight collectors today.

Comments - Wonderful surimono of a fan patterned with a magnificent peacock design. The circular inset at left shows a beauty holding a folding fan. The peacock and woman's face are beautifully drawn with delicate lines. Fantastic detailing, with an allover, deeply embossed floral pattern in the background, tiny embossed flowers around the peacock, and cloth embossing in the text panel at right. A truly lovely subject and a great choice for any surimono collector. The poem by Asanoya Naonari reads:

Along with the birds
hopping to and fro, the sun's
long tail-feather rays
bring out the golden luster
of this jeweled first day of spring.

Artist - Gakutei (1786 - 1868)

Image Size - 8 1/2" x 7 /12"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight paper remnants on reverse at edge from previous album inclusion. Light toning, a few tiny spots. Please see photos for details. Good overall.