Lacquer panel with two swordsmiths.

[Nazar]

Was going through the listings of a local internet auction when I stumbled upon this lacquer panel. And since it featured two swordsmiths working on a sword, I bought it. It came cheap, less than 50 USD including delivery. It arrived today and I decided to share it here. Is this one of those panels that came in pairs and mainly were for selling them to Gaijin? Also I am very curious about the headgear of the swordsmith to the left. 

 

The dimensions of the picture are approximately 307x232mm. 

 

I also found a round version of this picture here: https://www.roseberys.co.uk/a0470-lot-494323?el=494323&lo=&pp=96

 

 

 

 

Edited February 14 by Nazar

[Ian B3HR2UH]

I think this is the swordsmith Munechika forging the blade Kogitsune Maru ( little fox ) aided by the Fox Spirit in the form of a youth . See plate 5 of Robinson's The Arts of the Japanese Sword

[Davis]

Apologies for poor picture but I can't use a camera at the moment.  This is the picture that Ian refers to.  The other is a panel, screen really, that was sold at auction last year, that definitely originated in Japan.  I've come across countless panels similar to yours depicting Japanese life, always on paper mache.  I've assumed that these were a form of chinoiserie and probably French in origin.  However, my knowledge is very limited and I too would like to learn more and will defer to others.

[Nazar]

Ian, Mick, thank you both for the great input!

 

6 hours ago, Ian B3HR2UH said:

I think this is the swordsmith Munechika forging the blade Kogitsune Maru ( little fox ) aided by the Fox Spirit in the form of a youth . See plate 5 of Robinson's The Arts of the Japanese Sword

 

Ian, it's definitely is the plot depicted in the picture!

 

 

4 hours ago, Davis said:

Apologies for poor picture but I can't use a camera at the moment.  This is the picture that Ian refers to.  The other is a panel, screen really, that was sold at auction last year, that definitely originated in Japan.  I've come across countless panels similar to yours depicting Japanese life, always on paper mache.  I've assumed that these were a form of chinoiserie and probably French in origin.  However, my knowledge is very limited and I too would like to learn more and will defer to others.

 

Mick, thank you for the picture from the book! The piece is indeed a  papier-mache as it is made of brown paper and it indeed seems to belong to "Japonaise and Chinoiserie (Orientalism) decorative style made popular by the Empress Eugeniea, wife of Louis-Napoloen, last Emperor of France." And in this case it is even more curious that the legend made its way from Japan to France in the XIX century. 

[Bazza]

Couple more images I have on the same theme.  The Kutani bowls is mine, picked up at auction.

 

BaZZa.

 

 

 

 

 

[MassiveMoonHeh]

This one of my favourites - it shows actors Kataoka Nizaemon VIII as Rai Kunitoshi (Right), Ichikawa Danzô VI as Gorō Nyūdō Masamune (Centre) and Onoe Waichi II as his fictional son (Segare) Dankurô (Left). 

 

It is by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) for the play Date Moyô Somete Kisaragi at the Nakamura Theatre in 1858.