Object data
nishikie, with metallic pigments and blindprinting
height 207 mm × width 185 mm
Ryûryûkyo Shinsai
A Smoking Set and Turnips
Japan, Japan, Japan, Japan, c. 1815 - c. 1820
Provenance
…; purchased from the dealer Kunsthandel Huys den Esch, Dodewaard, by J.H.W. Goslings (1943-2011), Epse, near Deventer, 1989;1 by whom donated to the museum, 1991
Object number: RP-P-1991-659
Credit line: Gift of J.H.W. Goslings, Epse
Copyright: Public domain
Context
The Teikin orai is a classical guide to letter writing, intended to serve both as an aid in writing characters as well as help master compositional style. It is attributed to the monk Genne (d. 1350). As so many series based on literary sources, it is uncertain how many designs were in the original series.
It is quite likely that this series was designed for the same poetry group that commissioned A Series of Three on the Theme of Bravery and Valour from Japan and China for the Kumanyaren, Kumanyaren - Waken buyu awase sanban no uchi, from Hokusai in 1820 (see Keyes).2
For others in the series, see:
Karasumaru no eboshi: Still life of court-caps and a fan - NME, Leiden, 1353-19233, MFA 11.20027
Still life of various fans -4
Okushu no kin: Fabric, box with brushes, and golden pipe - MFA 11.20029.
The artist
Ryuryukyo Shinsai (n.d., but often given as 1764?-1820; the latter date is definitely incorrect as his last known designs were issued in 1825) is said to have first been follower of Tawaraya Sori, and later of Katsushika Hokusai, who gave him the art-name Shinsai in 1800. His personal name was Masayuki. He was one of the most prolific designers of surimono in the early 19th century and thoroughly explored the possibilities of issuing works in titled series.
Entry
A smoking set consisting of a pipe holder with metal fittings that is probably meant to be tucked into a sash with a small brocade tobacco pouch attached to it, a coral bead, ojime, keeping the bag closed. Behind it two turnips.
Turnips from Higashiyama, Higashiyarna no kabura, from the series The Home Precepts for Correspondence, Teikin orai.
The pipe holder, kiseruzutsu, is of an extremely luxurious type, which has led to it being identified by some as a dagger or even a short sword, but not even a woman's dagger would fit into a sheath this small. The turnip leaves are printed without the use of a line-block.
Three poems by Kashakutei Aigaki, Harunoya Hajime and Kumanya [or Soramitsuya? (Tagaki)] Maeda. The first two poems are rather unconventional and not very informative.
Maeda's poem reads:
It must have eaten Higashiyama turnips - the voice of the warbler in our garden sounds so full every morning
Higashiyama is a mountain east of Kyoto.
Issued by the Yomogawa
Signature reading: Shinsai
Produced by the Ryusai [Chimatal Studio]
Literature
M. Forrer, Surimono in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Leiden 2013, no. 357
Citation
M. Forrer, 2013, 'Ryûryûkyo Shinsai, A Smoking Set and Turnips, Japan, c. 1815 - c. 1820', in Surimono from the Goslings Collection in the Rijksmuseum, online coll. cat. Amsterdam: hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.363062
(accessed 26 November 2024 20:37:50).