Beschreibung:

Surimono. Girl making a model of Ichikawa Danjuro VIII, circa 1832, colour woodblock surimono print on laid paper, with Japanese verses signed Kosui-Sangin, 2 red seals lower left including Okame, worm track to original centrefold repaired, sheet size 22.8 x 36.5 cm (9 x 14.4 ins), with a handwritten letter discussing this print from Jack Hillier to Richard Illing, dated 7th January 1977, plus four other 19th century colour woodblock surimono prints, depicting a man in a black robe, another male figure in green robe and a seated woman (2 copies), each with printed Japanese text to right hand side, 25 x 37 cm (9.9 x 14.6 ins) (Qty: 5) Ichigawa Danjuro VIII (1823-1854) was a well known Kabuki actor of the Danjuro line. He became the 8th Ichikawa Danjuro at the age of just 9 years old. In the accompanying letter, Hillier surmises that this print may represent an announcement of the actor's change of name.