RARE SHINI-E · MEMORIAL PORTRAIT OF BANDŌ KAKITSU I · TOYOHARA KUNICHIKA · 1893 - Japan - Meiji period (1868-1912)
04
days
01
hour
38
minutes
50
seconds
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 142645 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Original, official Meiji period shini-e memorial portrait of Bandō Kakitsu I by Toyohara Kunichika, 1893, Ōban Tate-e format about 35 × 23 cm, published by Fukuda Kumajirō, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Artist: Toyohara Kunichika 豊原国周 (1835–1900)
Title: Bandō Kakitsu 坂東家橘, memorial portrait (shini-e) of Bandō Kakitsu I (1847–1893)
Genre: Yakusha-e, shini-e (actor print, memorial portrait)
Format: Ōban tate-e, approx. [35 × 23 cm]
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Date: 1893 (Meiji 26), third month
Publisher: Fukuda Kumajirō 福田熊治郎, Nihonbashi; date and publisher seal in the right margin
Signature: Kunichika hitsu 豊原国周筆, with toshidama seal
Inscriptions: The actor's name, date of death, age at death, Buddhist posthumous name and burial temple, together with his death poem (jisei)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Very good impression with strong, fresh colour. The paper has some minor toning and soiling. Please check the images!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
About the print
Shini-e ("death pictures") are memorial portraits issued within days of a well-known actor's death. They usually record the date of death, the posthumous Buddhist name and the place of burial, and often include the actor's farewell poem. This sheet records that Bandō Kakitsu died on the 18th day of the third month of Meiji 26 (1893), aged 47. It gives his posthumous name, Gikōin Hikoyo Kissen Koji 義孝院彦誉橘仙居士, and names his burial temple as Daiun-ji at Oshiage.
Bandō Kakitsu I was the third son of Ichimura Uzaemon XII and the younger brother of the great Onoe Kikugorō V. He came from the family that had run the Ichimura-za, one of Edo's three licensed theatres. In 1868 he took the name Ichimura Uzaemon XIV and became manager of the theatre. The Ichimura-za was heavily in debt, however, and in 1872 he handed the management to a relative and devoted himself to acting. At that point he changed his family name to Bandō and became Bandō Kakitsu. He spent several years touring Kyoto, Nagoya and the provinces, returned to Tokyo in 1884, and in 1892 appeared at the newly revived Ichimura-za. He died of peritonitis the following year.
His best-known roles were Kanpei in Chūshingura and Sakuramaru in Sugawara denju tenarai kagami. He had less flamboyance than his brother, but he was admired for his refinement, which earned him the nickname "the Dainagon" (the court noble). His adopted son became the famous Ichimura Uzaemon XV.
Kunichika was the leading actor-print designer in Tokyo at the time and had portrayed Kakitsu many times during his career. An impression of this sheet is held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Library, which records it as a shini-e published by Fukuda Kumajirō in the third month of 1893.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Artist: Toyohara Kunichika 豊原国周 (1835–1900)
Title: Bandō Kakitsu 坂東家橘, memorial portrait (shini-e) of Bandō Kakitsu I (1847–1893)
Genre: Yakusha-e, shini-e (actor print, memorial portrait)
Format: Ōban tate-e, approx. [35 × 23 cm]
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Date: 1893 (Meiji 26), third month
Publisher: Fukuda Kumajirō 福田熊治郎, Nihonbashi; date and publisher seal in the right margin
Signature: Kunichika hitsu 豊原国周筆, with toshidama seal
Inscriptions: The actor's name, date of death, age at death, Buddhist posthumous name and burial temple, together with his death poem (jisei)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Very good impression with strong, fresh colour. The paper has some minor toning and soiling. Please check the images!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
About the print
Shini-e ("death pictures") are memorial portraits issued within days of a well-known actor's death. They usually record the date of death, the posthumous Buddhist name and the place of burial, and often include the actor's farewell poem. This sheet records that Bandō Kakitsu died on the 18th day of the third month of Meiji 26 (1893), aged 47. It gives his posthumous name, Gikōin Hikoyo Kissen Koji 義孝院彦誉橘仙居士, and names his burial temple as Daiun-ji at Oshiage.
Bandō Kakitsu I was the third son of Ichimura Uzaemon XII and the younger brother of the great Onoe Kikugorō V. He came from the family that had run the Ichimura-za, one of Edo's three licensed theatres. In 1868 he took the name Ichimura Uzaemon XIV and became manager of the theatre. The Ichimura-za was heavily in debt, however, and in 1872 he handed the management to a relative and devoted himself to acting. At that point he changed his family name to Bandō and became Bandō Kakitsu. He spent several years touring Kyoto, Nagoya and the provinces, returned to Tokyo in 1884, and in 1892 appeared at the newly revived Ichimura-za. He died of peritonitis the following year.
His best-known roles were Kanpei in Chūshingura and Sakuramaru in Sugawara denju tenarai kagami. He had less flamboyance than his brother, but he was admired for his refinement, which earned him the nickname "the Dainagon" (the court noble). His adopted son became the famous Ichimura Uzaemon XV.
Kunichika was the leading actor-print designer in Tokyo at the time and had portrayed Kakitsu many times during his career. An impression of this sheet is held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Library, which records it as a shini-e published by Fukuda Kumajirō in the third month of 1893.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Meiji period (1868-1912)
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Title of artwork
RARE SHINI-E · MEMORIAL PORTRAIT OF BANDŌ KAKITSU I · TOYOHARA KUNICHIKA · 1893
Condition
Good condition
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
