Autumn twilight
It's November. In Japan, when the temperature drops significantly, the leaves change color, creating a beautiful autumn-like scenery.
It's also the fruiting season, so you'll want to go under the yellow ginkgo trees and pick up some delicious ginkgo nuts. Some people don't like it because it has a strong smell.
< Introduction to the artist's work by Staff S. >
Mount Horai
山下竹斎 Yamashita Chikusai (1885-1973)
Japanese painter of the Meiji and Showa periods. Studied under Yamamoto Shunkyo. Specialized in landscapes. Born in Kyoto. Member of the Teiten committee.
Yamashita Chikusai is a Japanese painter with an unusual charm. Not only the Horai Sansui introduced here, but also his Japanese paintings with slightly unusual compositions are very attractive. By the way, don't you think there is something strange about this painting of Horai Sansui? I think you will immediately recognise it, but the morning sun is rising between the mountains. It is unusual, isn't it? It is not strange if you think it is an imaginary world, but what was Chikusai thinking when he chose this composition?
White heron
狩野周信 Kano Chikanobu (1660-1728)
Painter active in the early to mid-Edo period. He was an imperial painter in the service of the Edo shogunate and was the third generation of the Kano family of Kobikicho, one of the four most prestigious Oku-eji families. His childhood name was Ikusaburo. His father was Kano Tsunenobu.
Kano Chikanobu is sometimes said to have been more delicate and to have used less brushwork than his father Tsunenobu, and to have produced fewer paintings to look at, but everyone has his or her own tastes. Some people may find his delicacy good. On the back of the box of this egret hanging scroll, it says: "The expression of the egret is splendid", and I had the same impression when I saw this egret. I thought that this egret was a good representation of the cuteness of the egret when it tilted its head.
Long-eared owl
岡本秋暉 Okamoto Shuki (1807-1862)
Painter of the late Edo period. He studied under Onishi Keisai and later Watanabe Kazan. He served in the Odawara clan. He excelled at realistic flower-and-bird paintings and established a decorative yet dignified and profound style. His peacock paintings were highly evaluated and he was called the "Peacock artist Shuki".
This long-eared owl has a sadness in its back view. I feel when I look at it that it must have been painted in a carefree way. I like its colonised form. Doesn't it look like the medium-sized Totoro in Neighbour Totoro? I call him Chutoro (lol).
Tomita Ritsuzan Echizen lacquerware Japanese Gold Lacquer Makie Flower Vase 'Crane and Pine'
https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/75939559
Suzuribako (Writing Inkstone Box) Gold Silver Lacquered Makie 'Pigeon'
A flower vase with a twin crane and pine tree motif in gold maki-e lacquer. Then there is an inkstone box with a dove motif in gold and silver lacquer maki-e. They are beautiful, aren't they? These two are currently on display at Catawiki, but I wanted to show you what they are like. The gold and silver doves are very pretty.
https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/75938943
Peacock
根本雪篷 Nemoto Sepou (b1878)
Born in Ichihara, Chiba in 1878. His father was the Japanese painter Nemoto Shoukoku Nemoto Shoukoku Nemoto Kakoriya. He first studied under Yanai Baishu and later under Araki Kanpo. From 1895, he won many prizes at the Exhibition of the Japan Art Association. He specialized in flower-and-bird paintings, especially peacocks.
Peacock painted by Nemoto Sepou. These two peacocks are very dynamic. I love the expressions on their faces. I am also fascinated by the depiction of their feathers and tails, which are expressed with a small number of colours. I also like the gold pine cones that are casually painted.
Two Magpies and Flowers
今井景樹 Imai Keiju (1891-1967)
Japanese-style painter of the Taisho and Showa periods. Born in Mie Prefecture. Studied the Maruyama school under Imao Keinen. Specialized in flower-and-bird paintings.
Two magpies relaxing by a willow tree. My first thought when I saw this hanging scroll was "What is the name of this bird?" Mr Matsuura, the president of the company, knew it was a magpie, but I had never seen a bird in black and blue with white mixed in, so I couldn't help but stare at it. I tried to imagine that the female magpie was the one near the chrysanthemum flowers and the male magpie was the one grooming, but then I thought it might be the other way round, considering that in the bird world the more flamboyant bird is often the male. Which is the male and which is the female? It's a bit hard for me to tell them apart.
Shoki (Zhong Kui) and Oni
The image of Shoki is said to be effective in warding off evil spirits and is often used as the subject of paintings on screens and hanging scrolls. This Shoki is jumping out of the circle. It is a depiction of leaning over to ward off evil, so does it mean that it will come from beyond the dimension? It looks very good for hanging at the end of the year.
Tea bowl
二代 小川長楽 Ogawa Choraku 2nd (1912-1991) was born in Kyoto as the eldest son of Ogawa Choraku 1st. Ogawa Choraku 2nd is designated as an artist for the preservation of art.
What did you all think it was when you saw just this image? I thought it was a sake cup. And I had an image of drinking sake with a tray floating on the edge or in an open-air bath, but I was wrong. This is a tea cup. I did think that it was round for a sake cup. When I saw the real thing, I was convinced it was the size of a teacup. This tea bowl is said to be used for making and drinking tea at the beginning of the new year. The gold leaf sometimes peels off a little when the tea is made with a tea whisk. They say that is good luck.
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reiwaantiques has an annual gift for those registered in the shop: a 20% off voucher code will be issued on 23 Nov. You can use it on 24-25 Nov. You can take advantage of this opportunity if you like.