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.

Courtier and Beauty Surimono, 1820s - Charming design from a series of ten surimono commissioned by the Honcho Circle. A square inset depicts a Heian era beauty and courtier inside a palace, the scene framed by clouds with metallic pigment that has oxidized to a dark tone. A circular inset with a floral and scroll pattern above contains a verse. A beautifully detailed design, with delicate cloth embossing on the light green panel at right and a faint allover embossed pattern on the background.

Artist - Gakutei (1786 - 1868)

Image Size - 8 1/4" x 7 3/8"

Condition - This print with good detail as shown. Backed with paper. Rubbing, a couple creases. Please see photos for details.