Lamp-wick Craft (Hôshin saiku) by Naniwa Shôjusai, with Dolls by Takeda Nuinosuke, at the Ekô-in in Ryôgoku from the last Part of the 5th Month

Utagawa Kunitsuru (Japanese, 1807–78)

1853 (Kaei 6), 5th month

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

Dimensions35.4 x 48.2 cm (13 15/16 x 19 in.)

Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession number11.45605

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ClassificationsPrints

Collections

Inscriptions「御町中様、益々御機嫌能く御座遊ばされ、恐悦至極に存じ奉り候、随て私義、何かな新工風の抱辛細工、先ず大織冠鎌足の下事を受けし玉取りも、鄙には希な出世鯉、龍門までも瀧登り、鳥類までもそれぞれに、こいつは一番妙な細工と、手を打て的（まと）いはずさぬ大当りと、西東人の山阿弥陀の光を開帳で見て貰わんと、初日より諸見物様栄当〳〵御来駕の程、偏に希い上げ奉り候、以上」

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.