Exhibition of Figures Made from Whalebone at Asakusa Kannon

Utagawa Kunitsuru (Japanese, 1807–78)

1852 (Kaei 5), intercalary 2nd month

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

Dimensions35.2 x 48.8 cm (13 7/8 x 19 3/16 in.)

Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession number11.45632

On View

Not on view

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。随て一昨年中京都、大坂両所において鯨細工興行仕り候処、殊の外御評判に預り、一座喜悦の眉を開き候折柄、御当地御贔屓様方より御招きを蒙り、心魂に撤し有難く、早速罷り下り、浅草観世音の御境内にて興行仕り、則拝覧に入れ候は大鯨金潮時と号し、山海、田野に名有る物等を細工取仕組み、目出度き例（ためし）瑞鳥の鳳凰、或は白龍昇天の鯉魚、其の外花麗の鉢植物、何（いづれ）も海中随一の大魚鯨の髭、骨を以て造り立て、扨て大切には全体十間の大鷲を左右へひらき、此中には種々の機関（からくり）を仕組み、古今珍しき品々にて御覧に入れ奉り候間、何卒初日より永当々々御来駕の程、偏に願上げ奉り候」

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.