Chiyoda Inner Palace - First published from 1894 - 1897, Chikanobu's "Chiyoda Inner Palace" (Chiyoda no Ooku) series depicts the lives of women in Edo Castle prior to the Meiji Restoration, when it was home to the shogun and his court. Edo Castle was also known as Chiyoda Castle, and the series includes 40 triptychs. The Inner Palace area housed the shogun's wife and unmarried daughters, his male heir, and many ladies-in-waiting and servants. These lovely triptychs illustrate seasonal activities both inside and outside of the women's private quarters, and a variety of ceremonies, rituals, and pastimes. The beauties are elegantly attired as they go about their daily lives, with wonderful attention and detail given to their sumptuous kimono and obi fabrics. Many designs include deluxe printing techniques such as burnishing, embossing, and mica or metallic pigment. Chikanobu's lovely "Chiyoda Inner Palace" series beautifully captures the world of upper-class women in mid-nineteenth century Japan.

Catching Fireflies - Beautiful triptych depicting a group catching fireflies on a summer night. At left, a young girl smiles as she chases a glowing insect with her fan. In the center, a beauty relaxes on a bench, watching as her companion at right slips a firefly into an insect cage, the handle of her fan caught between her teeth. The fireflies glow yellow in the evening sky as they fly about beneath a willow tree framing the shore. Beautifully detailed with embossing in the white kimono trim and on the ribs of the flat fans. A lovely design.

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

Image Size - 14" x 28 1/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with good color and detail as shown. Three separate panels. A few holes, repaired. Toning, slight soiling, slight creasing, a few small spots. Please see photos for details.