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.

Kintaro Refereeing a Fight between a Rooster and a Tengu Surimono - Fantastic surimono design of the wild golden boy Kintaro refereeing a wrestling match between a rooster and a mythical creature called a tengu. The child leaps up on one foot holding a traditional sumo wrestler's fan, watching the rooster intently as the tengu springs into the air. Beautifully detailed. The two verses above the image read:

As the spring mist
withdraws, the referee's fan
ends the match
and the rooster crows
triumph in a victory song.
-Seiyokan Umeyo

Ruddy colored
in the year's first sunrise
on Mt. Ashigara,
the Man of Mist, now too,
is bursting with power.
-Sanzuntei Kusami

Artist - Hokkei (1780 - 1850)

Image Size - 8" x 7"

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Horizontal and vertical folds. Small hole, repaired. Slight toning, a few creases and spots. Please see photos for details.