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Collecting Japanese Antiques. Alistair Seton
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isbn 9781462905881
Автор произведения Alistair Seton
Издательство Ingram
The quality of a fan depends on the design, the materials from which it is made, and sometimes the artist who painted it. Gold leaf or nice lacquering with, for example, hiramakie, add value, as does the use of an ivory guard or spokes, inlay or decorative carving on wooden slats, tortoise shell for the guards or slats, and the addition of silken tassels. Many old fans no longer have the spokes as the design was appreciated as an independent painting. Indeed, many famous Rimpa painters thought so highly of their work that the fans they painted were never spoked.
Special fans include sutra fans that are covered with, for example, landscapes with sutras painted on top. The text of a Nō play may also appear on a fan. Tessen or gunsen were used by soldiers, mai-ōgi gave dancers more reach and expressiveness. Another form seems to be from Korea: bamboo is split down to a suitable node and the tines are split into spokes for paper. Perhaps the strangest of all are maki-uchiwa which roll up round a central pole (like an umbrella) and a fan case concealing in its guard a knife!
Hutt and Alexander's book mentions large exports to China and Korea in medieval times and many mass-produced millions shipped to Europe and America during the late nineteenth century. Indeed, the care and artistry of fan making was lost but trade gained huge new markets that would not have appreciated the best anyway and advertising gained a new medium: even maps were printed on them in Japan. As I gaze at the 10-slat pāper fan given to JAL passengers long ago, with a moonscape, I regret that new toys and machines of little artistic value beat out graceful things.
Postcards
Japanese postcards produced up to 1941- the first one was issued by the Japanese government in 1873-have a high international reputation for their beauty and educational value, as Roland Barton, a ship postcard collector in Kobe, says in a letter to the author: "Art deco/commemorative cards are preferred by many international postcard dealers due to their vibrant colors, creative designs, raised embossing, often stamped hanko, and their overall artistic quality and periodic inclusion of inset photos of scenery, royalty, ships, important buildings, or other timely events."
No topics were taboo: imperial activities and family, funerals, battles and prisoners, domestic and international exhibitions, businesses and products, health and population statistics, Yoshiwara's red lights, nudes and beauties, various war capabilities, disaster scenes with many dead, and Ainu culture. An interesting article by Donald Rupnow appeared in Daruma 43.
Most cards sent overseas were hand tinted, so duplicate cards may still have different hues and even colors for the townscapes, people, and flora, as hundreds worked in this trade. One fascination is the preservation of history aspect in recording social, cultural, and political events and the ability to notice changes to towns and buildings since the cards were made. Some find particular interest in the cards covering occupied territory in Manchuria, Korea, Taiwan, and Sakhalin, while others are attracted to the stamps.
Washi
Handmade paper in Japan is called washi and it is a vital part of the culture in terms of domestic architecture (shoji and fusuma) as well as lanterns. It is the basis for a lot of the art covered later in this book and it is still used extensively in houses, but I have decided that this huge field is more usable than collectible, so have decided to invite readers to learn more about paper by using the little wallets, stationery, and other souvenirs, visit paper-making villages, see the work of paper designers Horiki Eriko (1962-) or Kita Toshiyuki (see Daruma 37), or read the big book on the subject by Sukey Hughes, Washi: The World of Japanese Paper.
Military Items
A large variety of goods glorifying or recording soldiers, battles, and especially the wars with China (1895) and Russia (1904-5) were turned out by companies in response to the Japanese government's call for patriotism. Mass-produced saké pourers and cups with military themes were frequently given to those signing up for or leaving the armed forces. Many bear the name of a division (like Maizuru Heavy Artillery) or the number of a unit. Some are vague, merely showing a military flag or a naval anchor. Saké cups with propellers or anchors molded into their bases, pictures of Lieut. Fukushima crossing Siberia, and plates decorated with assorted medals, heavy gun batteries or naval battles can also be found. Quite expensive (and attractive) dishes were also made (Fig. 23) showing military scenes. Humorous postcards showing military life are also favorites. Actual military medals are common.
Folkcraft Items
Many things with an "old Japan" feel about them were made for day-to-day activities, and can be classified as folkcraft items. Often these could be used in a number of venues but many are collected here. This is just a short list but there are thousands more.
In a shop: Abacuses (soroban); beckoning cats (maneki-neko) that try to invite happiness and customers into a business; cake molds (kashi-gata), which come in a wonderful variety and are often made of cherry or magnolia wood; bean-counter's fences (kekkai or chōba kōshi); seal boxes (in-bako); statues of Daikoku (Daikoku-ten, god of wealth); shop signs (kamban) displaying outside what kind of goods a store stocks inside, like medicine, pipes, tea, locks, etc. (see Figs. 329, 330); another pair are interesting too-the dai-shō kamban was a sign saying the store had sold lots (dai) or little (shō); candled shop signs (rōsoku kamban), the equivalent of neon-it lit your place up at night, thanks to the light the candle gave; and food delivery boxes with different level trays (okamochi). Yagen (Fig. 20) were used to grind medicines for pharmacies, while hakari weighed things of value, like gold and silver.
In a temple or shrine: Wooden bells (mokugyo) in a kind of shell shape that were struck with wooden sticks; drums; offertory boxes (saisenbako) and general cash holders (zeni-bako); guardian dogs (koma-inu); votive offerings; horse pictures (ema, see Fig. 63); lion-dog head masks (shishi-gashira); images of the Buddha and other Immortals (butsuzō or zushi), usually enclosed in a small box with doors that hide the image from view-very desirable to many collectors who thrill to the romance of the ineffable and fine carving, molding, and age; Inari fox statues; clappers to start theatrical performances (or indicate your time was up with a hired lady), which have a metallic sound but are of wood (hyōshi-gi); conch shell horns (horagai) for communicating at long distance and from island to island, or proving you are a good mountain priest.
Tools: Builders' line markers (sumitsubo, Fig. 21), carved by users who had to show their prowess; spinning wheels (itokuriguruma) and carders (ito-maki); printing blocks or woodcuts (han'-gi); hoes (kuwa); mallets (kizuchi) and other hammers; charcoal scuttles for the hearth or tea ceremony (sumi-bako); cutting tools like saws, planes, and chisels; barbers' chests; peddlers' chests; yam graters (suri-kogi); sculpted lids for vats or jars (futa); pails (oke); rice or saké measures (masu); well pulleys (ido-guruma); well buckets (tsurube); hatchet covers (nata-zaya); hae-toriki or mechanical fly-catchers with a Buddhist element (Fig. 22).
In a house: Hearth hangers (jizai kagi or adjustable height kettle or pot holders, often fitted with fish); candle stands (shokudai or rōsoku-dai/tate, bare or lacquered wood, but often metal and precision-made to be disassembled for transport); pouring bowls (kuchi-tsuki hachi); wooden bowls (ki-zara); savings boxes (chokin-bako), often hung from a wall; writing boxes (suzuri-bako); sewing boxes (hari-bako); trays (bon, zen); pulleys (kassha); wooden locks or crosspieces (yoko-gi); hobbyhorses (mokuba); doll figures of animals or humans; mortars (usu) and pestles for pounding mochi rice; pillows (makura), both wooden and ceramic (Fig. 24); hot water bottles (yu-tampo); large saké barrels (Fig. 25); steps to reach high shelves (fumi-dai); celebratory saké barrels (tsunodaru), and lacquer, bamboo, and pottery decorations (okimono).
Advice on Collecting
Collecting is a natural urge. Many animals do it. Dogs take weird things back to their kennel and bury bones in the garden. Squirrels collect nuts. These activities can be seen as rational: storing nonperishable food for leaner times. Antiques can fit into this pattern, too, if valuable, but you also buy things that you do not need to satisfy a craving. You may want to decorate a room to reflect your personality and priorities. Those personal traits influence your choice. You have to look around and see what antiques please you in other people's homes. Do you like a room warm with Victorian clutter? Do you