Rinsendo Shibuishi Kozuka: Monster's Ball?

[kaigunair]

After much wait and outrageous shipping fees, my first (and possibly last) shipment from a big auction house finally arrived (and I thought ebay was bad) . I believe it is rinsendo school. Unsigned. The shibuishi seems to be in fairly good condition and very shiny/reflective still. I enjoyed what looks to me like a very detailed and delicate rendition of a costume parade. Perhaps it was because halloween had just past?

 

Any how, thought I would ask if anyone can identify the creatures, or animals depicted in my most recent kozuka. Perhaps this is depicting a festival I am unaware of? my googling only comes up with a post 1950's festival called the Uwajima Ushi-oni Festival. I see a kite/lantern, streamers and possibly a flute/shakuhachi and another stick....Japanese pinata?

 

 

I was also wondering if this is considered rimpa style or if there is another name for prints done in shadow outlines...perhaps a Japanese term for shadow boxes or silhouettes?

 

Would appreciate any help with better understanding the meaning behind this kozuka. Thanks in advance.

[kaigunair]

hmmm....well, there's something called a "night parade" or Hyakki Yagyo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyakki_Yak%C5%8D

or perhaps related to a 100 scarry stories marathon session : Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai

 

My guesses so far:

1) Tanuki or Tengui

2) Kappa or Aoandon (blue lantern spirit related to the Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai)

3) Nekomata – The Split-Tailed Cat

 

looks like its the night parade!:

 

 

[Toryu2020]

Junichi-

I believe you answered your own question. Very nice piece, love the subdued nature of the colors and the theme.

-t

[John A Stuart]

Rimpa is heavily Chinese influenced with polychromatic painting and commonly gold leaf background, so no not Rimpa style. I would say this kozuka is stylistically sumi-e or an ink painting, black and white and all the shades of gray that implies, not just 50. :lol: John

[Brian Ayres]

I like it very much. Thanks for sharing.

[christianmalterre]

Great Kozuka

 

you should buy you: http://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Japa ... +art+books

 

certain you´ll love this publication!

 

Christian

[kaigunair]

Thanks all for the kind comments.

 

Christian, put the book on my wishlist as it does seem interesting indeed. My bookshelves are already overflowing, so I need to make more space for bookshelves to hold for all the great books out there that I don't have!

 

John, thanks for the clarification about rimpa....there was a similar rinsendo with the korin crows theme (a past post), which is why I thought maybe rimpa influence. But sumi-e makes sense...I still have a feeling there must be a formal name for this style....???

 

Tom, its weird how often that happens that only after asking the question, the answer shows up on a goggle trolling search. I would still appreciate any suggestions or confirmation about the bakemono, since I'm only really sure about the last two-tailed cat...

[kaigunair]

oh boy, just came across this bakemono: (scroll down to monster #7):

http://pinktentacle.com/2010/04/kaikida ... er-scroll/

 

he carries a stick too like the #2 figure....

[Brian Ayres]

oh boy, just came across this bakemono: (scroll down to monster #7):

http://pinktentacle.com/2010/04/kaikida ... er-scroll/

 

he carries a stick too like the #2 figure....

 

 

OMG! The biggest balls of them all.... That piece just gets better!

[John A Stuart]

At this link viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17599 is a book that has on the cover a tsuba by Umetada Myoju of Sho pine and Chiku bamboo. This tsuba is based upon painting by the Rinpa/Rimpa school. Myoju lived at the same time as Hon'ami Koetsu and Tawaraya Sotatsu and was influenced by their work. You can see how various metals/ colours were incorporated in the design. The dark inlay metal (shakudo?) does remind me of sumi-e and does appear often in his work. John

[kaigunair]

Thanks John. I've always admired the umetada kinko inlay, and didn't make the connection. I do have that book, still haven't made the time to go through it page by page though. Thanks for the info and heads up!

[Mark Green]

Love it!!

Shibuichi & shakudo. What is the back?

 

Can we see more pics please??

 

thanks for sharing, Mark

[kaigunair]

Hi Mark,

 

Glad you enjoy the piece too! Unfortunately, nothing on the back...just plain shibuishi, not even a design. The aoi cut out is the only other detail of possible significance, being outlined in metal and fairly well shaped, IMO. No signature anywhere, and trust me, I checked all the sides too. I went after it merely on the strength of the design. So, it may not even be by a rinsendo smith (at least, no absolute way of knowing... ).

 

I was hoping someone might know what the kantei points are for the rinsendo school, but has been all quite on that front so far....

 

Re-reading John's post, maybe rimpa school is back on the list of "in the style of" for this kozuka?

[John A Stuart]

I believe the term for the technique on your kozuka would be 影絵 Kagee, which is a shadow picture or silhouette. Whereas certain aspects imitate sumi-e I still am hesitant to call to mind Rinpa school. Maybe splitting hairs here and subjective to interpretation. John

[kaigunair]

I found this on the ashmolean site:

Tsuji Rinsendō Mitsumasa (b. 1722, d. 1777) at first pursued the Yokoya style, but later that of the Nara, and was followed by half a dozen pupils. The technique known as sumi-zōgan, whereby an ink (sumi) drawing is imitated by an inlay (zōgan) of shakudō on silver or shibuichi, is characteristic of Rinsendō work.

 

(The shingen tsuba info is pretty thin, so if the same can be said about their rinsendo info, then 影絵 Kagee technique per John is probably the way to go...)

[kaigunair]

Reviving this thread because I found something while going through the baur collection catalogue tonight.

 

There is an example on page 319, D2053 described as rinsendo work with a theme of tanuki and palaquin.

However, there is another example on p 252, D359 described as Kaga work. This one states that it is a procession of demons and monstrosities in silhouette, probably part of the "Hundred Demons walking in the evening". Notes a bluish tinge.

 

So my question is: what's the kantei difference between Kaga and Rinsendo works in Sumi-Zogan?

[Ford Hallam]

Junichi

 

first off, very nice kozuka. A fine example, I think. It'll go nicely, shortly, with one of Mt Fuji in the mist.

 

I think it would be almost impossible to state with absolute certainty that any piece is a specific school based solely on the technique used. Bear in mind that these were studios full of highly competent and thoroughly trained artisans so that should, say, a Kaga artist be asked to create a piece in Rinsendo style, based possibly on an original, it'd be hard for us today to spot the difference. And this of course points up the uncertainty inherent in Kantei of tosogu that relies on specific markers. It makes sense with blades but not always so, imo, with Edo period tosogu.

 

Having said that I think it perfectly reasonable to label your kozuka Rinsendo.

 

regards,

 

Ford

[kaigunair]

Thanks Ford. Make a lot of sense. I was thinking that perhaps signed Rinsendo examples might have that "something" which set them apart from Kaga works, such as the particular composition of the shibuishi. Since I believe Kaga works were usually unsigned, might be hard to go the other way around for the very reason you pointed out. The Baur mentioned a bluish tinge in the base shibuishi with the Kaga, so I thought perhaps this was a kaga vs rinsendo kantei point...

 

Don't want to rush greatness, but definitely looking forward to Mt. Fuji!