{"title":"Japanese","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"s-tomi-japanese-geisha-ozashiki-original-early-20th-century-gouache-painting-jy-311","title":"S. Tomi, Japanese Geisha Ozashiki – Original early 20th-century gouache painting","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original early 20th-century gouache painting, S. Tomi, Japanese Geisha Ozashiki.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA captivating Japanese painting dating from the early decades of the 20th century. The silhouetted style derives from the ancient Japanese woodblock tradition, allowing soft light to glow in this nighttime scene. Traditionally, ozashiki, or Geisha parties, were an everyday affair with dining and drinking, and artful performances from the Geishas. This combination of informality and high art is captured in this atmospheric composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo biographical information about S. Tomi is readily available, but the occurrence of the artist's paintings in England suggests that they had connections with Britain, if not worked here. Stylistic elements of the artist's work also point to a hybrid of Japanese and Western origins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe two-dimensional aesthetic of Japanese woodblock prints, with silhouetted forms used as a popular motif, were often found in European fin-de-siècle etchings, lithographs and woodcuts. Figures were stylised into decorative abstractions by representing them as flat expanses of colour, found in the work of Toulouse-Lautrec for example.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a set of three that we have for sale (see JY-310 to JY-312).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52018988187977,"sku":"JY-311","price":148.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/jy-311.jpg?v=1743507656"},{"product_id":"japanese-poppy-flowers-butterflies-meiji-period-late-c19th-painting-on-silk-ka-607","title":"Japanese Poppy Flowers \u0026 Butterflies – Meiji period late C19th painting on silk","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century Japanese painting on silk, Poppy Flowers \u0026amp; Butterflies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA delightful Japanese painting on silk dating from towards the end of the Meiji period which spanned 1868 to 1912.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one a series of works that we have for sale, depicting motifs from the natural world—principally birds and flowers—favoured in traditional Japanese art.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePainting on silk (or in Japanese, kenpon chakushoku) has a long tradition that predates paper. Originating in ancient China, silk (or eginu) became the popular canvas in Japan around the 12th century. Eginu, typically, is silk fabric plainly woven and thin, and feels coarse. Thread taken from silkworm cocoons is used unrefined to weave the fabric. Ink and paint stands out vividly on the silk's glossy surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe silk is backed on to a stiff card backing, or urauchi, to make the delicate work more robust and durable. The framing 'ribbon' is a paper flecked with scattered gold leaf.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52020438696265,"sku":"KA-607","price":86.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/ka-607.jpg?v=1743514388"},{"product_id":"japanese-school-cherry-blossom-with-swallow-birds-original-c-1847-watercolour-painting-kc-745","title":"Japanese School, Cherry Blossom with Swallow Birds – c.1847 ink \u0026 colour on silk","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original c.1847 watercolour painting – Japanese School, Cherry Blossom with Swallow Birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Japanese painting in ink and colour on silk backed with washi paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a collection of bird-and-flower paintings that we have for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53441685356873,"sku":"KC-745","price":368.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KC-745.jpg?v=1764695634"},{"product_id":"japanese-school-morning-glory-flower-with-rosefinch-bird-original-c-1847-watercolour-painting-kc-746","title":"Japanese School, Morning Glory Flower with Rosefinch Bird – c.1847 ink \u0026 colour on silk","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original c.1847 watercolour painting – Japanese School, Morning Glory Flower with Rosefinch Bird.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Japanese painting in ink and colour on silk backed with washi paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a collection of bird-and-flower paintings that we have for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53441685422409,"sku":"KC-746","price":280.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KC-746.jpg?v=1764695636"},{"product_id":"japanese-school-blue-blossom-branch-with-red-bird-original-c-1847-watercolour-painting-kc-747","title":"Japanese School, Blue Blossom Branch with Red Bird – c.1847 ink \u0026 colour on silk","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original c.1847 watercolour painting – Japanese School, Blue Blossom Branch with Red Bird.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Japanese painting in ink and colour on silk backed with washi paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a collection of bird-and-flower paintings that we have for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53441685750089,"sku":"KC-747","price":310.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KC-747.jpg?v=1764695643"},{"product_id":"japanese-school-magpie-bird-on-plum-blossom-branch-original-c-1847-watercolour-painting-kc-748","title":"Japanese School, Magpie Bird on Plum Blossom Branch – c.1847 ink \u0026 colour on silk","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original c.1847 watercolour painting – Japanese School, Magpie Bird on Plum Blossom Branch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Japanese painting in ink and colour on silk backed with washi paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a collection of bird-and-flower paintings that we have for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53441685782857,"sku":"KC-748","price":368.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KC-748.jpg?v=1764695644"},{"product_id":"japanese-school-wisteria-flower-with-red-bird-original-c-1847-watercolour-painting-kc-749","title":"Japanese School, Wisteria Flower with Red Bird – c.1847 ink \u0026 colour on silk","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original c.1847 watercolour painting – Japanese School, Wisteria Flower with Red Bird.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Japanese painting in ink and colour on silk backed with washi paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a collection of bird-and-flower paintings that we have for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53441686077769,"sku":"KC-749","price":280.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KC-749.jpg?v=1764695645"},{"product_id":"japanese-school-waxwing-bird-on-flowering-hibiscus-branch-original-c-1847-watercolour-painting-kc-750","title":"Japanese School, Waxwing Bird on Flowering Hibiscus Branch – c.1847 ink \u0026 colour on silk","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original c.1847 watercolour painting – Japanese School, Waxwing Bird on Flowering Hibiscus Branch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Japanese painting in ink and colour on silk backed with washi paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a collection of bird-and-flower paintings that we have for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53441686110537,"sku":"KC-750","price":380.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KC-750.jpg?v=1764695646"},{"product_id":"japanese-school-plum-blossom-with-sparrow-bird-original-c-1847-watercolour-painting-kc-751","title":"Japanese School, Plum Blossom with Sparrow Bird – c.1847 ink \u0026 colour on silk","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original c.1847 watercolour painting – Japanese School, Plum Blossom with Sparrow Bird.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Japanese painting in ink and colour on silk backed with washi paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a collection of bird-and-flower paintings that we have for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53441686208841,"sku":"KC-751","price":268.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KC-751.jpg?v=1764695652"},{"product_id":"japanese-school-hill-myna-bird-on-flowering-branch-original-c-1847-watercolour-painting-kc-752","title":"Japanese School, Hill Myna Bird on Flowering Branch – c.1847 ink \u0026 colour on silk","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original c.1847 watercolour painting – Japanese School, Hill Myna Bird on Flowering Branch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Japanese painting in ink and colour on silk backed with washi paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a collection of bird-and-flower paintings that we have for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53441686667593,"sku":"KC-752","price":380.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KC-752.jpg?v=1764695652"},{"product_id":"yoshikage-goto-military-officers-of-the-imperial-court-receiving-celebratory-cup-after-defeating-the-satsuma-rebellion-original-1914-woodblock-print-kd-081","title":"Yoshikage Gotō, Military Officers of the Imperial Court Receiving Celebratory Cup after Defeating the Satsuma Rebellion – 1914 woodblock print","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 1914 woodblock print – Yoshikage Gotō, Military Officers of the Imperial Court Receiving Celebratory Cup after Defeating the Satsuma Rebellion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA striking, colourful triptych of nishiki-e (brocade picture) woodblock prints, depicting a celebratory scene from the imperial Meiji court. Military officers receive sake from ceremonial cups filled by geishas, in celebration of the defeat of the Satsuma rebellion in 1877, marking the end of the feudal era.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIndividual sheet size: 35 x 24cm. Total size: 35 x 73cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease note that the three sheets are separate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe triptych comes with the interesting provenance of Robert Byron (1905–1941), travel writer and art historian. Byron is best known for his travelogue 'The Road to Oxiana', documenting his travels in the Middle East but written whilst he was living in Beijing in 1835–6. Byron was an aesthete and member of the so-called Bright Young Things of London between the wars; in Beijing he was visiting his friend (and unrequited love) Desmond Parsons (1910–1937), as well as his Eton \u0026amp; Oxford contemporary Harold Acton (1904–1994) who was living there at the time. Byron's great desire was to go to Japan, and his further travels did include Japan, along with America, Russia and Siberia. He met an untimely death in 1941 during World War II when the ship he was on was torpedoed. Byron's extensive collection of travel photographs is now in the British Museum.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53800875753801,"sku":"KD-081","price":248.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-081.jpg?v=1770217906"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/collections\/SC35-JB-552_bd107178-5128-4796-87b0-6f88a505aefc.jpg?v=1744991754","url":"https:\/\/somersetandwood.com\/collections\/japanese.oembed","provider":"Somerset \u0026 Wood Fine Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}