Stunning 1833 Japanese Woodblock Print by Kuniyoshi Utagawa of Kabuki Actor Nakamura Shiken II and Son sterling silver polar bear An early one for sure

An early one for sure

in nicely applied  combination of yellow and red paint

I believe this would be properly be classified as spongeware (and was by the dealer who sold it me)

Quite a compelling little carving

or carp here are actually hanging from what I believe are meant to be lanterns

Stunning 1833 Japanese Woodblock Print by Kuniyoshi Utagawa of Kabuki Actor Nakamura Shiken II and Son sterling silver polar bear An early one for sureI found this one at an antique shop in Cambridge, MA, purchased from a dealer who often has interesting works on paper at very good prices. I come across a fair number of Japanese Edo era woodblock prints (ukiyo e), which I often admire but am not typically compelled to purchase but this one stopped me in my tracks. Photos do no justice to how striking and lush feeling it is in person, but between the colors soft but bold green and yellow and blue and