Shellcraft (Kai saiku), on Display in the Precincts of Asakusa Kannon

Utagawa Kunitsuru (Japanese, 1807–78)

Yamaguchiya Tôbei (Kinkôdô) (Japanese)

1858 (Ansei 5), 2nd month

Medium/TechniqueWoodblock print (sumizuri-e); ink on paper

Dimensions36.9 x 49.5 cm (14 1/2 x 19 1/2 in.)

Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession number11.45579

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsPrints

Collections

Inscriptions「四海（よつのうみ）の静謐に納り、豊に楽む大御代の時を、ゑしまの磯部に拾ふ種々の貝をもつて森羅万象（さまざまのかたち）を造り、諸人方（いずれもさま）の御覧を希（こう）も、彼桜貝、紅貝、幾春秋か工風を凝せば、看板に出せる岩磐獅子の子落し、おちのくる細工は流々仕上も見事な錦に花を折染て、新吉原に名高き遊君達が手際を見せる遠州流の挿花活るといふに縁故もある貝に取合、木偶（にんぎょう）も今時（いま）流行する歌舞伎役者の似顔形象（すがた）の生写と仰山□並さへ、かの灰吹から蛇の出るやうな大騒な螺（ほら）をふき、鷺貝を烏貝と違（まちがわ）す東西（もの）には候はねば、先一度は御見物の上、御意に的（かな）ふて是は妙外の類はあられ貝、波の小貝のなみ〳〵ならぬ作り物じやと八角貝の隅からすみまで御評判を象袖貝の袖を連て富士貝の山秤なる大入大繁昌といたしまするやふ偏に奉願上候。太夫元。」

ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.