Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art Auction
Lot 130:
Japanese Edo Period Woodblock Book Tametomo Ichidaiki, Attributed to Utagawa Kuniaki
Description
Attributed to Utagawa Kuniaki (Japanese, active mid-19th century) Tametomo Ichidaiki – Single Volume
Description
An illustrated Edo-period woodblock-printed single volume from Tametomo Ichidaiki, a warrior tale recounting episodes from the life of Minamoto no Tametomo. The illustrations are attributed to Utagawa Kuniaki, a pupil of Kunisada known for musha-e imagery. The volume features dynamic samurai scenes accompanied by period calligraphy, with a hand-colored cover depicting a female portrait.
Details
Artist: Attributed to Utagawa Kuniaki (Japanese, active mid-19th century)
Title: (Tametomo Ichidaiki)
Format: Woodblock-printed illustrated book, single volume
Date / Period: Edo period, circa 1850s–1860s
Dimensions: Approx. 12 × 18 cm
Condition: Moderate wear, worming, and toning consistent with age
Rarity: Scarce Edo-period illustrated fiction
Catalogue Note
Tametomo Ichidaiki belongs to the popular genre of illustrated warrior literature that flourished in the late Edo period. Volumes attributed to Utagawa Kuniaki reflect the Utagawa school’s emphasis on narrative clarity and energetic figure drawing. Surviving single volumes are increasingly scarce and are valued for their insight into mid-19th-century popular culture and woodblock book production.
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