Ukiyo-e, Rainstorm Beneath The Summit (with trees)

[Nihonto Chicken]

Spring cleaning brought out a Japanese print I acquired years ago that has spent most of its time since in storage. It isn't a Hokusai original, but rather the variant on his print of Rainstorm Beneath The Summit wherein an enterprising soul decided to improve the scene with the addition of trees to the foreground:

 

 

I understand that, while it's not in the running with an original Hokusai, this print, if a variant original as I believe it is, has some decent value to ukiyo-e collectors. I had thought of having the Knutsons auction it, but never got a round tuit, and now they're out of the auction biz. Might someone suggest another good auction business to raffle this off? I'd prefer not to use Fleabay, but instead go to a concern that specializes in Japanese/Oriental art and has a good rep. I don't know whether it would make the minimum that would interest Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonham & Butterfield, etc. It may as well go to someone who will get a bigger thrill out of it than do I. Thanks for any in-the-know feedback!

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning Rick,

 

The print in it's original form is known as Sanka Hakou 山下白雨, it comes from the series Fugaku Sanjūrokkei 富嶽三十六景 - 36 views of Mt Fuji (There's actually 46 in the series) produced between 1826 and 1833.

 

When collecting or selling prints, condition is everything.

 

It looks as though there are several issues regarding the print's condition.

 

Some of them can be addressed by a qualified paper conservator, but that will be expensive.

 

Any of the three auction house you named will be able to help you with a valuation on this in the current market, and they will tell you whether it meets with their minimum lot charges.

 

Cheers

[Lindus]

Also Lempertz in Colne.

 

Interesting re Malcolms comment on Print condition. In the eighties my old friend Dr Turk asked if I was interested in buying a "Good" print by a famous man, he showed me this crumpled,rubbed vision of uglyness...(see below).

Declined the offer as he wanted £400 for it.. , then asked if I would post it along with some others to Lempertz in Germany.

A month or so later he called to say it had made a then world record price of (as I remember it ) 8000DM... moral is ignore the state if signed Sharaku.

 

Roy

[Lindus]

Is this in the collection of a member by any chance???if so what would it be worth today.

Roy

[Baka Gaijin]

Morning Roy

 

I can tell you what it was worth on the 18th of September 2002............

 

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/prin ... a0fa8482f1

 

 

(The World record price for a Sharaku print was in Paris 2009 - $589,000)

 

Cheers

[Lindus]

 

Glad it was only $83,000,feel a whole lot better.

Roy

[Nihonto Chicken]

Thank you for your response, Malcolm. I had hoped that there might be an equivalent to the Knutson's Asian Collection that is still in biz, but failing that I will go ahead and try the general auction houses.