Catalog (165)

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Peacock and Peahen in a Flowering Cherry Tree
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Shoson seal at right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: AS.30 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Ohara Koson
Birds in flight in snow
Size: Approximately 15.8 x 9.8 cm. 6.75 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Koson signature at lower right. Unsealed.
Uncatalogued. Does not appear in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A small hole below the lower bird. Corner bends and creases. Please see photos 3 and 4.
This design is a curiosity as it is very similar to our Hiroshi...

Hiroshige Ando
Seven Song-birds (aka. Gourds and Japanese White-eye)
Size: Approximately 7.5 x 5.25 inches. 19.4 x 13.2 cm.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 26).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Small spot where back Matsumoto label is attached.
The Matsumoto catalog notes, "Seven mejiro (known as Japanese silver-eye) perching on a melon-vine."

Ohara Koson
Crow on Cherry Branch
Size: Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Unsigned as originally issued.
Reference: page 175 of Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Excellent. Uncirculated. One pencil point-sized dot in sky.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.

Ide Gakusui
Heron in Rain
Date: ca. 1950.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Artist's signature and seal lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Round, red 6mm seal lower left, which is consistent with a first edition (produced 1946-1957).
Embossing is featured on the snowy egret's body. Please see enlargement 2.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Adhered to board via contact sheet.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Flycatcher and Cucumber.
Date: pre-1936.
Size: Approximately 10.0 x 3.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. W36-458 in Watanabe 1936 catalog.
Bears the Shoson seal.
Reference: S10.3 (cat. 160, p. 156) in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Excellent.

Ohara Koson
Three small birds on a twig of a red maple
Size: Approximately 17.5 x 12.5 cm. 6.75 x 4.875 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 440).
Reference: AK.18 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back.
An early and rarely seen design.

Ohara Koson
Two birds on thin twigs with red berries
Size: Approximately 16.8 x 11.8 cm. 6.625 x 4.625 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 436).
Reference: K35.18 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back.
An early and rarely seen design.

Sparrow on Hortensia (Blue Hydrangea) (aka. A Songbird Among Hydrangea)
Size: Kotanzaku. Approximately 19.4 x 9.6 cm. 7.75 x 3.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 106).
Kono Bairei seal at lower left. Bairei died in 1895, which, curiously, was before Matsumoto was in business. Matsumoto has also issued this print with a proper Koson seal. Please see an example in our last photo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Pucker in paper...

Ohara Koson
Crow on Snowy Bough
Size: Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Unsigned as originally issued.
Publisher: Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi).
Reference: #48b on page 72 of Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Excellent. Never displayed.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Kingfisher on Snow-Covered Reeds
Size: Approximately 7 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Shoson seal at lower left.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: AS.13 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Embossed snow on this rarely seen design.

Ohara Koson
Eagle watching small bird (Eagle with outspread wings)
This example has a Matsumoto Print Works tag on the back (#105). The ca. 1910 Matsumoto catalog lists the print as "Eagle on a Tree."
Size: Ko-tanzaku. Approximately 7.75 x 3.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1900s-1923.
Koson seal at lower right.
References: Matsumoto #105. AK.11 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Compare with our large Ohara111 K13.2 publishe...

Ohara Koson
Peafowl on flowering cherry
Size: ko-tanzaku. Approximately 7.75 x 3.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1900s-1923.
Koson seal at lower right.
Reference: AK.19 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Compare with our large Ohara125 K38.13 published by Daikokuya.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Back lower corner has spot.

Ohara Koson
Small Bird on a Morning Glory
Size: Approximately 16.9 x 12 cm. 6.5 x 4.625 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 438).
AK.24 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A couple of spots the lower sky.
An early and rarely seen design.

Ohara Koson
Two songbirds on a cherry tree
Size: Approximately 17 x 12 cm. 6.625 x 4.625 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 435).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A few foxing spots. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back.
An early and rarely seen design not found in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).

Ohara Koson
Snipe at Waterside
Size: Approximately 17.0 x 12.2 cm. 6.625 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 448). The Matsumoto catalog calls this print Magpie Searching For Food at the Edge of a Marsh.
Reference: AK.14 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent with light creasing where original publ...

Ohara Koson
Quail in Moonlight
Size: Approximately 17 x 12 cm. 6.75 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 447).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Faint foxing spots. Light creasing at top right edge.
An early and rarely seen design not found in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).

Ohara Koson
Heron (Egret) on a Willow Tree
Size: Approximately 17 x 12 cm. 6.625 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at upper right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 437).
Reference: AK.12 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back. A few marks in sky.
An early and rarely seen desig...