Kashigata (wooden sweet mold,) Kiku (chrysanthemum) motif; Japan, early 20th C. L.5.875"(15cm) x W.3.0"(7.5cm) x H.1.75"(4.5cm.) The chrysanthemum is a symbol of late fall and was also a popular motif for celebratory occasions. Sweet molds, “kashigata,” have been a part of confectionary culture around the world. Well-known examples in Asia come from Japan, China, Korea, and Indonesia. In Europe; countries such as Germany, Holland, and England have a rich history of cake mold production...

Kawase Hasui
Moon at Nakanoshima, Sapporo 1933
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the 7 mm seal, indicating a printing between 1957 and 1989.
Condition: Unframed. Very good. Slight toning and professionally reinforced left margin.
- A rare appearance of a horse in a Hasui print.

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold) with a dynamic image of a minogame (mino = "straw rain cape," kame/game = "turtle/tortoise.") Early 20th C., Japan. L.13"(33cm) x W.5"(12.5cm) x H.1.125"(2.75cm,) 1 piece paddle type mold. Some minor insect damage to back of mold (see enlargements 4 & 5.) The tortoise is a symbol of long life in Japan, and in Asia in general...

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold) with double Kiku (chrysanthemum) motif, early 20th C., Japan. L.8.75"(22.5cm) x W.4.25"(10.5cm) x H.1.75"(4.5cm.) This mold has two chrysanthemum blossoms, a symbol of beauty and abundance in late fall and winter. On the side, the sweetmaker has written "an iri no natsume" (sweet red bean paste filled jujube) to indicate for which of type of sweet this mold was used...

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold) with image of Jou (old man from the Noh play "Takasago.") Early 20th C, Japan. L.7.75"(9.5cm) x W.3.375"(8.5cm) x H..75'(2cm). Bottom portion of mold only. The image of Jou, the old man raking leaves and the companion of Uba, is from the ancient Noh play "Takasago." Alone or accompanied by Uba, Jou is a symbol of a long married life and fidelity. Such sweets could have been used for marriages and New Years...

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold,) Take (bamboo) motif, Japan, early 20th C. L.7.375"(18.5cm) x W.4.375") x H.1.375"(3.5cm.) This mold features a bamboo stalk with two groupings of leaves, and the sweetmaker has written "sa-sa-ba" (bamboo leaves) on the side of the mold. Bamboo's resilient nature makes it a symbol of resilience in hard times and was a traditional symbol used for many celebratory occasions, such as births and weddings...

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold,) Japanese Imperial Army Emblem, early 20th C. L.6.375"(16.25cm) x W.3.625"(9.25cm) x H.1.5"(4cm). This unique kashigata features an emblem of the Imperial Japanese Army; the Star over two crossed swords, with a hammer and chain. The overall outline shape is that is a war fan.This item shows how even nationalism came into the designs of Japanese sweets in the Imperial era at the end of the 19th century and in the early 20th century...

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold,) Biwa (loquat fruit, Eriobotrya Japonica) motif, Japan, early 20th C. L.8.125"(20.5cm) x W.4.374"(11cm) x H.1.5"(4cm.) The image on this mold shows a bunch of loquat fruit, known as "biwa" in Japanese. Biwa are indegenous to SE China, and the Japanese name may refer to the oblong shape of mature fruit that resembles the shape of the musical instrument, lute (also "biwa" in Japanese.) In olden days, a type of cough medication was made from the syrup of the fruit...

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold,) Momiji (Japanese Maple) motif. Japan, early 20th C. L.8.125"(20.5cm) x W.3.0"(7.5cm) x H.1.75"(3.5cm.) This kashigata displays 2 Japanese maple leaves. As seasonality was often a concern in Japanese confectionery tradition, this image would have been a lovely inference to the autumn season...

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold,) Hi No De Tsuru (Rising Sun Crane) motif. Japan, early 20th C. L.7.0"(18cm) x W.3.75"(9.5cm) x H.1.625"(4cm). The Crane symbolizes long life, as does the Tortoise, in many Asian cultures. In Japan, it was a popular traditional motif for celebratory events such as weddings, New Year's, and birth. This particular example shows the rising sun, a symbol of Japan, behind the crane...

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold,) Matsu (pine) motif; Japan, early 20th C. L.8.5"(21cm) x W.4.0"(10cm) x H.1.75"(4.5cm.) The pine symbolizes "evergreen" and was a popular motif for celebratory occasions such as weddings and New Year's. It is one of the "Three Friends of Winter," which also includes plum and bamboo. Sweet molds, “kashigata,” have been a part of confectionary culture around the world. Well-known examples in Asia come from Japan, China, Korea, and Indonesia. In Europe; countri...

Hiratsuka Un-ichi (1895 ~ 1997)
Nihonbashi Bridge in Tokyo (aka. Night at Nihonbashi Bridge)
Date: 1946
Card size: Approximately 6.0 x 4.25 inches.
This woodblock print is the front cover of a Christmas/New Year card signed in pen by the artist at the inside.
Reference: Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Toshi Yoshida (1911~1995)
Depicting: Snow scene
A woodblock print tipped at the top to a Japanese Christmas card from the early 1950s. Please photo of the inside of the card.
Signed "T. Yoshida"
Condition: Excellent.

Artist: Uchima (Aohara) Toshiko (1918-2000). Aohara would marry the renowned artist Ansei Uchima.
Scene: Girl in Costume.
Image area: 5.5 x 3.5 inches. A woodblock print tipped at the top to original cardstock.
Bears the "Aohara" seal.
Publisher: Kyoto Hanga-In.
Condition: Excellent.

Yamakawa Shuho (1898 - 1944)
Premonition of Snow, 1927
Size: Oban, approximately 15.0 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Bijutsusha
Condition. Unframed. This print has had tears and toning professionally restored.
An intriguing bijin image with an unusual title.

Kawase Hasui
Kankai Temple, Beppu Hot Springs, 1927
Publisher: Bijutsusha. One of only eight Hasui designs published by Bijutsusha. Bears the red "Rumi" publisher's seal.
Size: Oban, approximately 15.0 x 10.25 inches.
Condition: Unframed. Excellent. A small (2 mm) hole in the dark green foliage has been invisibly repaired by a conservator. Short green dash in grey upper right sky.
A lush landscape format print and a rare design. Beppu is among Japan's most famous hot spri...

Artist: Kawase Hasui
Title: Daimotsu, Amagasaki
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo, 6mm seal.
Date: 1940. The 6mm seal was used between 1946 and 1957.
Size: Oban, approximately 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Condition: Pristine. Unframed. Never displayed. The two left margin pinholes are the original state.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Title: Crow on a Snow Covered Branch
Date: 1910s ~ 1920s
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Size: 11.25 x 5.5 inches.
Reference: Newland, Amy R."Crows, cranes & camellias" p. 196.

A rare creped woodblock print by Koson. Creping was popular in the early 20th century due to superior durability.
Condition: Unframed. Excellent. This print appears to be as fresh as the day it was made. It is an absolute knockout. The scans do not do justice to th...