Artist Index: Japan

Photographer: Baron Raimund Stillfried-Ratenicz (1839-1911), Felice Beato (1832-1909), Kusakabe Kimbei (1841-1932) and unknown. Landscapes, temples and villages of Japan. 1860s-90s. 26 hand-colored albumen prints. Each circa 22 x 29 cm. Some with number and title in lower corners in the negative, most mounted to board and mounted in mats.

In good to very good condition.

Lit.: Claudia Gabriele Philippe/Dietmar Siegert/ Rainer Wick (eds.). Felice Beato in Japan. Photographien zum Ende der Feudalzeit 1863-1873. Heidelberg 1991, ill. pp. 45,108 and 178.

Photographers: Kozaburo Tamamura (1856-1923) and Kusakabe Kimbei (1841-1934). Views of Tokyo. 1890s. 49 hand-colored albumen prints mounted to gilt-edged album boards. Each circa 20 x 26 cm (26 x 33 cm). Most with number and title in lower edge in the negative. Bound in black and gold silk album with chord binding (edges slightly worn).

This album features views of Mount Atago, Tokyo Imperial Palace, Prince Hotta’s Garden, Mukojima Garden, Shiba Toshogu Shrine, Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Sengaku Temple, Ueno and Asakusa, along with a two-part panoramic view of Tokyo (with some emulsion loss at the lower edge). – Some prints buckled through mounting, a few with some wear/spots, otherwise most in good to very good condition.

Photographer: Baron Raimund Stillfried-Ratenicz (1839-1911), Felice Beato (1832-1909) and unknown. Japanese portraits. 1870s-90s. 22 hand-colored albumen prints. Each circa 24 x 20 cm and reverse. Some with number and title in lower corners in the negative, most mounted to board and mounted in mats.

This attractive group includes portraits of farmers, teachers, Kendo fighters, geishas and musicians. – Several faded, especially in edges, some with light scuff/handling marks, some with light spots, otherwise most in good condition.

Lit.: Luke Gartlan. A Career of Japan. Baron Raimund von Stillfried and Early Yokohama Photography. Leiden/Boston 2016, ill. p. 201.
Claudia Gabriele Philippe/Dietmar Siegert/ Rainer Wick (eds.). Felice Beato in Japan. Photographien zum Ende der Feudalzeit 1863-1873. Heidelberg 1991, ill. p. 151, 168 and 170.

Photographers: Felice Beato (1832-1909), Baron Raimund von Stillfried (1839-1911), or Adolfo Farsari (1841-1898). Trades of Japan. 1870s. 3 albumen prints matted and mounted in wooden frame. Each ca. 20 x 26 cm (42 x 52 cm). One numbered in negative in lower left margin.

These photographs show traditional Japanese artisans and street vendors from the Meiji era, engaged in their crafts such as umbrella-making, basket-weaving, and selling household items. The detailed composition and focus on daily life make these images a classic example of the Yokohama school style, popular among Western collectors at the time. – A few light scuff marks, otherwise in excellent condition.

Lit.: Wieczorek, Alfried, and Claude W. Sui. Ins Land der Kirschblüte: Japanische Reisefotografie aus dem 19. Jahrhundert. Berlin: Kehrer Verlag, 2011, ill. p. 138.

Photographer: Baron Raimund Stillfried-Ratenicz (1839-1911), Felice Beato (1832-1909) and unknown. Ainu villages, Hokkaido and group portraits. 1880s. 7 (some hand-colored) albumen prints. Each circa 20 x 24 cm and reverse. Some with number and title in lower corners in the negative, most mounted to board and mounted in mats.

The indigenous Ainu people originally inhabited the main Japanese island of Honshu before being gradually pushed further north. They lived as hunters, gatherers, and fishers, cultivating a unique and independent culture. By the late 19th century, the Ainu faced increasing assimilation due to political pressure from the Meiji government. Today, only a small number of Ainu remain on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, the Kuril Islands, and Sakhalin. After enduring a long history of discrimination, their language, religion, and culture were officially recognized by the Japanese government in 2008. Historical records of Ainu culture are now rare, making this collection particularly significant. Of special interest are the photographs of their small settlements and group portraits depicting them in traditional clothing. – A few prints with isolated spots, otherwise in good to very good condition.

Lit.: Luke Gartlan. A Career of Japan. Baron Raimund von Stillfried and Early Yokohama Photography. Leiden/Boston 2016, ill. p.138.

Photographer: Baron Raimund Stillfried-Ratenicz (1839-1911), Felice Beato (1832-1909), Kusakabe Kimbei (1841-1932), and unknown. Japanese portraits. 1870s-90s. 28 hand-colored albumen prints. Each circa 24 x 20 cm. Some with number and title in lower corners in the negative, most mounted to board and matted.

Baron Raimund von Stillfried-Ratenicz, Felice Beato, and Kusakabe Kimbei were influential photographers who played key roles in documenting Japan during the late 19th century. Stillfried and Beato, both foreign photographers, captured the landscapes, architecture, and people of Japan, with Beato’s work being among the first visual records of the country for Western audiences. Kusakabe Kimbei, a Japanese photographer who trained under Stillfried and Beato, became known for his hand-colored images of traditional Japanese scenes, catering primarily to Western visitors during the Meiji period.This attractive group includes photographs of street sellers, monks, priests, geishas, wrestlers, tattooed men and craftsmen. The coloring is often exceptionally subtle and finely executed. – Several faded, especially in edges, some with light scuff/handling marks, some with light spots, otherwise most in good condition.

Lit.: Claudia Gabriele Philippe/Dietmar Siegert/ Rainer Wick (eds.). Felice Beato in Japan. Photographien zum Ende der Feudal Zeit 1863-1873. Heidelberg 1991, ill. pp. 155, 160, 168 and 172.
Alfried Wieczorek/Claude W. Sui (eds.). Ins Land der Kirschblüte. Japanische Reisefotografien aus dem 19. Jahrhundert. Heidelberg 2011, ill. p. 144 (Farmer with grass coat-Kimbei).

Photographers: Kajima Seibei (1866-1924), Kusakabe Kimbei (1841-1932) and others. Views of people, landscapes and temples of Japan. 1870-1890. 46 hand-colored albumen prints. Each circa 20 x 27 cm. Most prints with title and number in the negative in lower corners, mounted to gilt-edged album boards (slightly warped, some foxing), bound in contemporary decorative red lacquer album (some chips/scratches in edges) with relief landscape scene in gold and leather spine (rubbed), 27 x 36 cm.

This attractive album features various landscape vistas and genre scenes, alongside a number of captivating portraits of Kabuki actors and Geishas, some of which can be attributed to Kajima Seibei and Kusakabe Kimbei. Included are several early portraits of the renowned Geishas Ponta and Oen from the Shinbashi district in Tokyo, who would later achieve nationwide acclaim for their mastery and refinement. – A number of prints slightly faded in edges, some with light surface scuff marks, some with light foxing, otherwise all in good to very good condition.

Photographer unknown. "Travelling Girl in Kago"; Portrait. Circa 1900. 2 hand-colored albumen prints. 20,2 x 26 cm and 26,7 x 20,5. One with title and number in negative in lower left.

Portrait slightly faded and with two spots, some handling creases, otherwise in good condition.

Photographer unknown. Landscapes, people and temples of Japan. Circa 1910. 54 hand-colored platinum prints. Each circa 22 x 29 cm and reverse. Some with title and number in the negative in lower edge, mounted to album pages, a few annotated in German in ink in upper corner on mount, bound in contemporary silk album (rubbed, frayed in edges) with cord binding. 31 x 43 cm.

This highly attractive album includes picturesque landscapes, genre scenes and people on farms and farming. The hand-colored platinum prints are of an exquisite quality and unusually fine. – Some prints buckled from glue, a few with light stains from glue on verso, a few with light fading in edges, otherwise most in good to very good condition.

Photographer: Kusakabe Kimbei, Ogawa Kazumasa and unknown. Views of landscapes and genre scenes of Japan. 1890s. 21 hand-colored albumen prints. Each circa 20 x 26 cm. Most with number and title in lower corner in the negative.

Several faded, some with light scuff/handling marks, a few small tears in edges, otherwise most in good condition.

Lit.: Claudio Pescio (ed.). Ineffabile Perfezione. La fotografia del giappone 1860-1910, Lugano 2010, ill. pp. 140 (Loom), 247 (Girls in Bedroom).

Photographer: Felice Beato (1832-1909), Kusakabe Kimbei (1841-1932) and others. Picturesque views of landscapes, temples and portraits of people of Japan. 1890s. 11 finely hand-colored albumen prints. Each circa 20,5 x 26 cm. Each flush-mounted to card, annotated in German in ink on the verso.

Some faded, some with light scuff marks, some creases, otherwise most in good condition.

um 1800. Okimono: Schädel mit Schlange und Frosch.
Elfenbein, geschnitzt. H. 6,2 cm.

Bei vorliegenden, überaus minutiös und filigran gearbeiteten Elfenbeinschädel, der Innen hohl belassen ist, handelt es sich um ein Okimono, das wörtlich gewissermaßen "Hinstellding" meint. Es handelt sich um ein objet vertu, also um ein Dekorationsgegenstand, der anders als etwa Netsuke, die eine Funktion hatten, tatsächlich zu dekorativen Zwecken aufgestellt wurde.

19. Jh. Okimono: Totentanz
Elfenbein, vollrund geschnitzt. 6 x 6,7 cm. Signiert.

19. Jh. Okimono: Spielende Gerippe mit einem Affen.
Elfenbein, vollrund geschnitzt, unter einem Glassturz. 8,8 x 5,5 cm.

19. Jh. Sieben Netsuke.
Fünf aus Elfenbein, einer aus Buchsbaum, ein Nusskern. H. 2,3 - 4,6 cm. Fünf signiert.

Beigegeben ein weiteres Netsuke (oder Okimono?) in Schädelform aus Bein, das darauf sitzende Klauentier fehlend.