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 - Lovely surimono still-life of a biwa or Japanese lute resting against a flowering plum branch covered with delicate pink and white blossoms and buds. A verse frames the image at left. Beautifully drawn with handsome calligraphic strokes in the tree branches.

Artist - Tanomura Shosai (1847 - 1909)

Image Size - 8 1/2" x 7 5/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight toning, a few spots. Please see photos for details. Good overall.