Ww2 Era Japanese Art

[mywifesgunakillme]

I have a few art pieces supposedly brought back by a GI at the end of WW2. The cardboard holder has seen better days, but it has done it's job as the art pieces themselves are still in very nice shape.  I took a lot of pictures, so I may have to take a few posts up front.  I will try to keep them in the order I tool the pictures to help reduce confusion.  I am looking to sell these pieces, but don't know anything about them.  If someone could help with the translation on the pieces that would be appreciated.  I would like to sell to someone who would appreciate them and put them on display.  Each piece is approx 18" tall.  One being probably 26" or so.  Thanks for the help.  If you are interested in them you can PM me.

 

The prints have been pressed into the paper.  I tried to take a few close-up shots so you can see the impressions left behind.  The last piece is a print on heavy silk I believe.

[mywifesgunakillme]

Batch #2

[mywifesgunakillme]

Batch #3

[mywifesgunakillme]

Last batch.  

[mywifesgunakillme]

Nobody?

[Geraint]

Hi Jason.

 

I'm afraid I can't help much except to say that these seem to be a selection of reprints of famous originals.  Have a look at this link and it will show you the Sharaku as reproduced by Adachi in the 1940s. https://ukiyo-e.org/image/famsf/5076163106610070

 

 In Japan reprints of famous examples are all too common and perfectly acceptable.  Should you have an original Sharaku then you will have scored, an expert will tell you more, especially with the prints in hand but the freshness of the impression in the paper and the condition would suggest that these were from the mid 20th century.. 

 

The painting on silk is a souvenir piece too, not unlike the millions of paintings of the Eiffel tower sold every year in Paris, attractive and would look nice framed but not of any value I fear.

 

Nice things to have and very attractive to frame and display alongside your swords.

 

Hope this helps a little.

 

All the best.

[mywifesgunakillme]

Thank you for the information.  I'll see if there is a local Japanese woodblock art appraiser in my area.  Seems like even reprints may carry some value.  We'll see.  Thanks again! 

[SteveM]

Looks to be a collection of prints, assembled and published by a firm in Kyoto in 1927 (Showa 2).

 

浮世絵大家傳作集

Ukiyoe Taikadensakushū　(Collection of Ukiyoe from the Masters)

 

You might get some interest from one of the stores in Tokyo that specialize in ukiyoe and ukiyoe-related books.

The following is just one example. There are others.

http://www.harashobo.com/english/

Ukiyoe are prints made from a woodblock, and so they are all in some form mass-produced. Generally, the more recent the reprint, the lower the value. Your prints would be a generation or two removed from the original printings.