Description
Precious triptych of polychrome woodblock prints made in August 1868 by the artist Toyohara Kunichika (豊原国周), entitled “Amusements at the House of the Golden Vase” (金瓶楼遊戯) and depicting the magnificent rooms of the famous house of pleasure Kinpeiro (金瓶楼), which was located in the Edomachi (江戸町) block of the Shin Yoshiwara (新吉原) district.
In the red rectangles placed next to the nine courtesans, who we see in the foreground intent on various leisure activities, we read, from right to left, their names: Kosaisho (小最章), Shiratori (白鳥), Azumae (あづまゑ), Shauseu (志やうせう), Imamurasaki (今紫), Kodayu (小太夫), Kochujo (小中将), Hokushu (北洲) and Shizuka (志づか).
The prints on Japanese washi paper (和紙), produced by the publisher Yorozuya Magobei (万屋孫兵衛), owner of Kineido (錦栄堂), despite a partial trimming of the margins as well as the presence of the right signs of aging and many restorations on small holes, are in overall good condition.
