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. These fine quality suriomono reprints offer a great way to collect these classic designs at an affordable price.

Comments - Beautiful surimono print of a traditional Noh theater mask resting on a colorful cloth with a verse by the poet Shojuro Nagatoshi above. The mask and the nose are embossed from the reverse along the edges, which gives them a gently rounded appearance, a special technique known as kimekomi or kimedashi. A striking design.

Artist - Kuninao (1795 - 1854)

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

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Paper remnants on reverse at corners from previous mounting. Slight toning and soiling, a few spots. Please see photos for details.