Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Visitors' Forum

Asian Art Forums - Reply Message
Asian Art Forums

Message Listing by Date:
Message Index | Back | Post a New Message | Search | Private Mail | FAQ
Subject:Origin of Japanese porcelain doll head and print translation
Posted By: Wendy Woo Fri, Nov 02, 2018 IP: 125.234.116.26
I bought this doll head — maybe made of porcelain— at an antique market in tokyo. Any ideas what it is? Is it like the “good luck” cats?

Also, bought this print, with hand drawings on it, from the same market. The woman spoke to me in Japanese for a long time, but I have no idea what she was saying. What is the translation? Thanks!





Subject:Re: Origin of Japanese porcelain doll head and print translation
Posted By: Stan Sat, Nov 03, 2018
Your Japanese woodblock print is by Toyohara Kunichika (1835 - 1900).

Cheers,
Stan

Subject:Re: Origin of Japanese porcelain doll head and print translation
Posted By: I.Nagy Sun, Nov 04, 2018
Pic.1,
The porcelain doll is called Fukusuke (福助)
This chubby man with a disproportionately head is considered to bring youth, wealth and luck.

Pic.2,
Ukiyoe print,
Title,
見立榮優五人揃　高嶋屋　桝若 -
Mitate Eiyu Goninzoroi Takashimaya Masuwaka -
Selection of Five Excellent Kabuki Actors - Naritaya as Masuwaka
Name Cartouche,
豊原國周筆　-　Painted by Toyohara Kunichika

Toyohara Kunichika 豊原國周　1835-1900
Ukiyoe woodblock print artist.

With regards,
I.Nagy


Subject:Re: Origin of Japanese porcelain doll head and print translation
Posted By: Bill H Sun, Nov 04, 2018
I'll leave your woodblock print to others, but the ceramic doll is Fukusukesan, a Japanese minor deity , who is shown in his entirety, as a kneeling samauri, not just his head. I read somewhere a mention of him often being seen on display in Japanese retail establishments as a good luck symbol. The link will take you to Wikipedia.org for a thumbnail sketch of his other attributes.

Also shown below is an image of him in porcelain from my own collection. It is identical to one identified as a Kutani product worth US$475-675 in my 1997 edition of the "Collector's Value Guide to Oriental Decorative Arts" by well known Asian arts expert Sandra Andacht, whose business card, which came with my book order, also bears an image of Fukusukesan.

So may you also prosper by him,

Bill H.




URL Title :Fukusukesan


Post a Reply
Name:
Email:
Group: China & Japan
Subject:
Message:
Link URL:
Enter here the complete URL of any site, page or image you would like to show other visitors.
URL Title:
Enter here the title of the link you've given above. This will appear to the visitor. Eg., if you are linking another picture, enter "Another picture". The link will not appear without a title.
Image URL:
Enter here the URL of an image if it is already uploaded on the web. The image will appear with your posting. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post.
Image: You may upload up to three images. If you would like to upload more images to this message please do so by replying to this same message.

Please make sure the file type is JPEG or GIF and the filename does not contain spaces.




Use the Browse button to find an image (jpg or gif) on a local drive on your computer to upload for including with your message. Do not upload images with file names containing spaces. Please do not upload files larger than 500 KB in size. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post. Check the "email notification" box below if you would like to be notified of any responses to your message.
Check here for email notification.
Security Code: Security Image: please enter the text appears in this image.

Please type in the code you see in the image directly above this input box.

Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |