City of Osaka.
Osaka, Japan: Yuki Museum of Art, n.y. Small 4to (5" X 9¼", opens to 39½" X 9¼"), housed in open-topped presentation box. Fine/fine. Item #47445
Pristine tabletop color reproduction of an eight-panel depiction created during the Genroku Era (1688-1704), printed on eight thin gilt-edged hinged boards. Verso bears glossy silk-like decorative paper. Recto has ½" decorative cloth border and superb facsimile of this detailed cityscape of Osaka, a southern coastal town that today is Japan's third-largest city. Depicted is a vast panorama of the city and its citizens, and while undated is probably of 1970s-90s vintage. Laid-in leaflet (one side in English, the other in Japanese) titled "Naniwa at Work and Play" features associate curator Sachiyo Suehiro's description and history of "The Naniwa Panel Screens," reading in part: "Numerous persons from all walks of life: samurai, merchants, oarsmen, stonemasons, together with palanquin bearers, street vendors, priests soliciting contributions, plus a Feudal Lord procession, a festival, pilgrims, and passers-by are all captured on this canvas for posterity...." This lovely presentation comes from the personal collection of Adlai E. Stevenson III (1930-2021), U.S. Senator from Illinois (1969-81), son of governor and twice presidential candidate Adlai II (1900-65) and great-grandson of congressman/postmaster general/vice president Adlai I (1935-1914). Senator Stevenson was likely presented it as a visiting dignitary by a government representative or perhaps in later years in his capacity as chairman of the first Sino-U.S. intermediary company. A lovely display piece with interesting provenance.
Price: $95.00