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His Majesty the Emperor Seated upon the Throne in the Shinshinden Palace at the Enthronement Ceremony (Tennô heika Shishinden gosokui-shiki mishô no Takamukura), from the series Commemorating the Imperial Ceremonies (Gotairei kinen)

(Japanese, 1874–1946)
(Japanese)
1915 (Taishô 4), printed November 5, published November 8
Medium/TechniqueColor lithograph; ink on paper
Dimensions40 x 54.6 cm (15 3/4 x 21 1/2 in.)
Credit LineJean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Collection
Accession number2008.521
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsPrints
Description
The enthronement of the Meiji emperor in 1868 had been conducted using an ordinary type of Japanese throne, a square platform with curtains, already in use for various occasions at the court. For the Taishō enthronement of 1915, however, a special octagonal throne was constructed, based on historical research into older customs. A similar but slightly smaller throne was built for the empress. The two thrones are kept at the imperial palace in Kyoto and were used again in 1928, 1990, and 2019. Since the last two enthronements were held in Tokyo rather than Kyoto, the thrones were temporarily transported there for the occasion.
ProvenancePurchased by Fred Sharf; 2008, given by Fred Sharf to the MFA