Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Japanese Woodblock Pillar Print to the 18th Century.
The print's authenticity has been formally confirmed via email by specialists in the Asian department at Bonham's, London, who noted it as an authentic period work with typical, gentle period fading. The composition illustrates the traditional and auspicious theme of Shichifukujin (The Seven Lucky Gods) navigating the heavens and seas aboard the magical treasure ship, the Takarabune. Rendered with fine, expressive line work and subtle color layering, the vertical design cleverly stacks the beloved deities—including recognizable figures such as Daikoku and Ebisu near the bow—amidst rolling waves, auspicious symbols, and celestial details.
Condition: Exhibiting a gentle, even period fading characteristic of a genuine 18th-to-early-19th-century woodblock print exposed over time, preserving a soft, unretouched historical patina favored by serious collectors.
Dimensions: Framed dimensions are approximately 71.5 cm x 22.5 cm, maintaining the elongated, slender vertical proportions designed for traditional architectural display.
Documentation & Provenance:
Artist: Katsukawa Shunshō (1726–1792).
Publisher: Published by Uemura-han (active c. 1793–1813).
Authentication: Confirmed as an authentic period print via email correspondence from the Asian department at Bonham's, London. (2024)
Verso Details: Inscribed with traditional catalog notes on the backing board identifying the subject (The 7 Lucky Gods Sailing in the Takarabune), individual deity callouts, the publisher, and the artist, alongside the official provenance green collector's label for The G.S. May Esquire Private Collection, London.
About the Artist
Katsukawa Shunshō (1726–1792) was a foundational figure and master of the ukiyo-e "pictures of the floating world" genre, best known for revolutionizing actor print (yakusha-e) design by depicting kabuki actors with individualized, lifelike facial expressions rather than generic heroic templates. As the head of the influential Katsukawa school—and the primary teacher to the legendary ukiyo-e master Hokusai—Shunshō’s work is celebrated for its draftsmanship, technical precision, and enduring impact on Japanese printmaking history.
Works by Katsukawa Shunshō, including rare pillar prints (hashira-e) of the Takarabune theme, are held in the permanent collections of major international institutions, such as the British Museum (London), the Brooklyn Museum (New York), the Spencer Museum of Art (Kansas), the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Worcester Art Museum. Comparable authenticated examples circulate exclusively within high-end private collections and specialized Asian art galleries.
Note on Photography: The print is housed behind protective glass for preservation. Any minor glare or reflection visible in the accompanying photographs is a result of the glass and lighting conditions rather than any defect on the surface of the print itself.
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Japanese Woodblock Pillar Print to the 18th Century.
Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
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Katsukawa Shunshō (1726–1792) | the Seven Lucky Gods Sailing in the Takarabune - Edo Period, 18th Century
