Set of 17 Antique Photographic Postcards (Bromides) – Japanese Kabuki Theater & - Postcard - 1935-1925
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Origin: Japan. A lot of 17 vintage bromide photograph postcards featuring Japanese theatre (Kabuki and Shimpa) dating to circa 1925–1935, in very good condition.
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Description from the seller
Superb homogeneous collection of 17 antique photographic postcards (real-era bromides) devoted to Japanese performing arts. Dating from the early Shōwa period (c. 1925-1935), this lot, of great documentary and collecting value, illustrates the golden age of productions by the famous Shochiku company (松竹). It features renowned Kabuki actors (notably in onnagata roles, men portraying female parts) and Shimpa (modernized transitional theatre), as well as adaptations of Western plays of the era.
The cards are printed on prestige photographic papers of the time (Oriental Photo Papers, with the SPS brand logo on the back). Several cards bear handwritten annotations from the period in Japanese and official printing notes.
Produced by Shochiku’s photography department, enabling precise identification of iconic repertoire pieces and legendary actors (such as the Ichikawa lineage or Onoe Kikugorō).
Detailed description of the 17 postcards
1 Classic Kabuki Scene – The Umbrella in the Snow
Description: A Kabuki actor in a striped kimono holds a large traditional butter-paper umbrella (janome-gasa) beside a female figure (onnagata) under the snowflakes.
2 The Sacred Dance – Daughter of Dojoji (娘道成寺)
Description: Spectacular stage view showing a dancer with a traditional white hat on a wooden stage, surrounded in the background by ritual musicians and singers seated in a row. The back bears a handwritten note confirming the actor Kikugorō (菊五郎).
3 Courtesy Portrait (Oiran) – Dojo Kabuto Gunki
Description: Full-length portrait of a high-ranking courtesan magnificently adorned, seated and playing the shamisen. The details of her elaborate coiffure and embroidered kimono are exquisitely rendered. The back identifies the historic piece and the character Akoya (阿古夜).
4 Studio portrait of a young actor in civil dress
Description: Bust shot of a young man with short hair wearing a dark traditional kimono, displaying a stylized white calligraphic signature printed on the negative.
5 Western theatre adaptation – Cyrano de Bergerac (シラノ・ド・ベルジュラック)
Description: A fascinating and rare card showing two Japanese actors in European-style costumes (mustaches, curled wigs, frills, and sword) about to kiss. The back bears handwritten notes from the period designating the characters Roxane (ロキサアヌ) and Christian (クリスチャン).
6 Kabuki drama – Lovers on the Moonlit Bridge
Description: Studio-painted nocturnal scene depicting a couple on a traditional wooden bridge under a full moon in the background. The actor wears a geometric-patterned yukata and geta (wooden sandals).
7 High-ranking Samurai actor portrait
Description: Male actor facing the camera in formal ceremonial kimono and dark haori jacket bearing family crests (mon), before a wooden screen.
8 Theatrical genre scene – Interior of a temple or palace
Description: Two actors on stage: one knelt at the foreground in listening posture, while the second appears in the background, elevated behind an open screen.
9 Actress in a white dress and flower – Modern Theatre (Shimpa/Opera)
Description: Unusual black-background photo showing a young woman wearing a lace-beaded bonnet, a white frilled dress, extending a hand and holding a light pink rose. The back notes the word Shijū (シジィ) associated with a female role.
10 Historic scene – The confrontation of the Samurai
Description: View of three actors in historical warrior costumes inside a traditional interior. The central actor crouches, one hand on his sword (katana), flanked by two attentive male figures.
11 Indoor Kabuki scene – Shared secret
Description: Medium shot showing two actors on tatami mats of a traditional house. One kneels in a striped kimono, the other wears a dark embroidered kimono, creating the dramatic tension typical of period pieces (jidaimono).
12 Lion Dance (Renjishi) or mythological figure
Description: A kneeling actor on stage, crowned with an impressive mane of long light hair falling onto his shoulders, standing before a magnificently painted dragon paravent.
13 Theatrical tenderness scene – Couple in Kimono
Description: Close-up of a couple of actors in profile, one in a striped kimono and the other wearing a splendid silk kimono with floral motifs and a light fabric headdress tied on the head.
14 Interior stage – The Maiden on the Balcony
Description: A top-down view of a rickety stage where a woman in a pale kimono looks down from a wooden balustrade, while a richly adorned figure in dark attire sits below.
15 Bust portrait – Classic beauty of an Onnagata (Travel card)
Description: Beautiful studio close-up of an actor embodying a female role, wearing a striped kimono and a dark obi, face whitened with oshiroi. The back of this unique card traveled at the time, bearing a blue postage stamp from origin (1.5 sen) and covered with handwritten ink correspondence.
16 Standing portrait – Feminine elegance in a black kimono
Description: Studio portrait of a woman (or onnagata) wearing a striking black kimono adorned with wave and flower motifs, with a magnificent half-moon silver hair ornament.
17 Dramatic scene – The silent confrontation
Description: Minimalist interior scene showing a man in a white kimono kneeling on a tatami, facing a woman in a dark kimono seated at the opposite end of the room.
Very good condition for century-old photographs. Superb contrast in blacks and whites and beautiful original sepia tones. Backing is sound, with minor oxidation or natural foxing traces scattered on a few pieces, quite normal for the era and guaranteeing their perfect authenticity.
Superb homogeneous collection of 17 antique photographic postcards (real-era bromides) devoted to Japanese performing arts. Dating from the early Shōwa period (c. 1925-1935), this lot, of great documentary and collecting value, illustrates the golden age of productions by the famous Shochiku company (松竹). It features renowned Kabuki actors (notably in onnagata roles, men portraying female parts) and Shimpa (modernized transitional theatre), as well as adaptations of Western plays of the era.
The cards are printed on prestige photographic papers of the time (Oriental Photo Papers, with the SPS brand logo on the back). Several cards bear handwritten annotations from the period in Japanese and official printing notes.
Produced by Shochiku’s photography department, enabling precise identification of iconic repertoire pieces and legendary actors (such as the Ichikawa lineage or Onoe Kikugorō).
Detailed description of the 17 postcards
1 Classic Kabuki Scene – The Umbrella in the Snow
Description: A Kabuki actor in a striped kimono holds a large traditional butter-paper umbrella (janome-gasa) beside a female figure (onnagata) under the snowflakes.
2 The Sacred Dance – Daughter of Dojoji (娘道成寺)
Description: Spectacular stage view showing a dancer with a traditional white hat on a wooden stage, surrounded in the background by ritual musicians and singers seated in a row. The back bears a handwritten note confirming the actor Kikugorō (菊五郎).
3 Courtesy Portrait (Oiran) – Dojo Kabuto Gunki
Description: Full-length portrait of a high-ranking courtesan magnificently adorned, seated and playing the shamisen. The details of her elaborate coiffure and embroidered kimono are exquisitely rendered. The back identifies the historic piece and the character Akoya (阿古夜).
4 Studio portrait of a young actor in civil dress
Description: Bust shot of a young man with short hair wearing a dark traditional kimono, displaying a stylized white calligraphic signature printed on the negative.
5 Western theatre adaptation – Cyrano de Bergerac (シラノ・ド・ベルジュラック)
Description: A fascinating and rare card showing two Japanese actors in European-style costumes (mustaches, curled wigs, frills, and sword) about to kiss. The back bears handwritten notes from the period designating the characters Roxane (ロキサアヌ) and Christian (クリスチャン).
6 Kabuki drama – Lovers on the Moonlit Bridge
Description: Studio-painted nocturnal scene depicting a couple on a traditional wooden bridge under a full moon in the background. The actor wears a geometric-patterned yukata and geta (wooden sandals).
7 High-ranking Samurai actor portrait
Description: Male actor facing the camera in formal ceremonial kimono and dark haori jacket bearing family crests (mon), before a wooden screen.
8 Theatrical genre scene – Interior of a temple or palace
Description: Two actors on stage: one knelt at the foreground in listening posture, while the second appears in the background, elevated behind an open screen.
9 Actress in a white dress and flower – Modern Theatre (Shimpa/Opera)
Description: Unusual black-background photo showing a young woman wearing a lace-beaded bonnet, a white frilled dress, extending a hand and holding a light pink rose. The back notes the word Shijū (シジィ) associated with a female role.
10 Historic scene – The confrontation of the Samurai
Description: View of three actors in historical warrior costumes inside a traditional interior. The central actor crouches, one hand on his sword (katana), flanked by two attentive male figures.
11 Indoor Kabuki scene – Shared secret
Description: Medium shot showing two actors on tatami mats of a traditional house. One kneels in a striped kimono, the other wears a dark embroidered kimono, creating the dramatic tension typical of period pieces (jidaimono).
12 Lion Dance (Renjishi) or mythological figure
Description: A kneeling actor on stage, crowned with an impressive mane of long light hair falling onto his shoulders, standing before a magnificently painted dragon paravent.
13 Theatrical tenderness scene – Couple in Kimono
Description: Close-up of a couple of actors in profile, one in a striped kimono and the other wearing a splendid silk kimono with floral motifs and a light fabric headdress tied on the head.
14 Interior stage – The Maiden on the Balcony
Description: A top-down view of a rickety stage where a woman in a pale kimono looks down from a wooden balustrade, while a richly adorned figure in dark attire sits below.
15 Bust portrait – Classic beauty of an Onnagata (Travel card)
Description: Beautiful studio close-up of an actor embodying a female role, wearing a striped kimono and a dark obi, face whitened with oshiroi. The back of this unique card traveled at the time, bearing a blue postage stamp from origin (1.5 sen) and covered with handwritten ink correspondence.
16 Standing portrait – Feminine elegance in a black kimono
Description: Studio portrait of a woman (or onnagata) wearing a striking black kimono adorned with wave and flower motifs, with a magnificent half-moon silver hair ornament.
17 Dramatic scene – The silent confrontation
Description: Minimalist interior scene showing a man in a white kimono kneeling on a tatami, facing a woman in a dark kimono seated at the opposite end of the room.
Very good condition for century-old photographs. Superb contrast in blacks and whites and beautiful original sepia tones. Backing is sound, with minor oxidation or natural foxing traces scattered on a few pieces, quite normal for the era and guaranteeing their perfect authenticity.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Theme detail/city
Set of 17 Antique Photographic Postcards (Bromides) – Japanese Kabuki Theater &
Year - youngest item
1925
Year - oldest item
1935
Condition
Good condition
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