Kawarazaki Shōdō – Floral Calendar of Japan – Unsōdō, Kyoto – Japanese Flower Print - Japan - 20th century
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Kawarazaki Shōdō’s original mid-20th-century Japanese woodblock print Kikyō, published by Unsōdō in Kyoto, measures 40.5 × 27.2 cm and is in excellent condition.
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Description from the seller
Artist: Kawarazaki Shōdō (1889–1973)
Title: Kikyō 桔梗 (Chinese Bellflower, Platycodon grandiflorus)
Series: Flower prints published by Unsōdō, often catalogued as “Floral Calendar of Japan”
Technique: Original Japanese woodblock print (moku-hanga)
Period: Shōwa period, mid-20th century - First Edition
Publisher: Unsōdō 芸艸堂, Kyoto (publisher’s cartouche in the left margin)
Seals: Red artist’s seal “Shōdō” within the image; title in the upper left; publisher, carver (彫) and printer (摺) cartouches in the lower left margin
Format: Ōban, 40.5 x 27.2 cm
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Paper & condition
Excellent. Full margins, unfaded, unbacked, no folds or foxing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
About the print
The kikyō, or Chinese bellflower, is one of the Aki no nanakusa, the “seven flowers of autumn” named in a poem by Yamanoue no Okura in the 8th-century Man’yōshū. It has been a fixture of Japanese poetry and painting ever since, and is still used as an autumn season word in haiku. The flower also has a long life in heraldry. The kikyō crest was carried by the Toki and Akechi clans, Akechi Mitsuhide among them, and the five-pointed shape of the bloom is linked to the “Seimei kikyō” star associated with the Heian court diviner Abe no Seimei.
Shōdō was born in Kyoto and trained in yūzen textile dyeing under Yamamoto Sekkei before turning to painting. He designed his botanical prints for the Kyoto publisher Unsōdō, where he also worked, and the series was cut and printed in-house, as the carver’s and printer’s cartouches record. Issued from the 1950s, these flower prints found a ready audience in Japan and abroad and made Shōdō one of the best-known flower-print designers of the 20th century.
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: Kawarazaki Shōdō (1889–1973)
Title: Kikyō 桔梗 (Chinese Bellflower, Platycodon grandiflorus)
Series: Flower prints published by Unsōdō, often catalogued as “Floral Calendar of Japan”
Technique: Original Japanese woodblock print (moku-hanga)
Period: Shōwa period, mid-20th century - First Edition
Publisher: Unsōdō 芸艸堂, Kyoto (publisher’s cartouche in the left margin)
Seals: Red artist’s seal “Shōdō” within the image; title in the upper left; publisher, carver (彫) and printer (摺) cartouches in the lower left margin
Format: Ōban, 40.5 x 27.2 cm
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper & condition
Excellent. Full margins, unfaded, unbacked, no folds or foxing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
About the print
The kikyō, or Chinese bellflower, is one of the Aki no nanakusa, the “seven flowers of autumn” named in a poem by Yamanoue no Okura in the 8th-century Man’yōshū. It has been a fixture of Japanese poetry and painting ever since, and is still used as an autumn season word in haiku. The flower also has a long life in heraldry. The kikyō crest was carried by the Toki and Akechi clans, Akechi Mitsuhide among them, and the five-pointed shape of the bloom is linked to the “Seimei kikyō” star associated with the Heian court diviner Abe no Seimei.
Shōdō was born in Kyoto and trained in yūzen textile dyeing under Yamamoto Sekkei before turning to painting. He designed his botanical prints for the Kyoto publisher Unsōdō, where he also worked, and the series was cut and printed in-house, as the carver’s and printer’s cartouches record. Issued from the 1950s, these flower prints found a ready audience in Japan and abroad and made Shōdō one of the best-known flower-print designers of the 20th century.
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
20th century
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Title of artwork
Kawarazaki Shōdō – Floral Calendar of Japan – Unsōdō, Kyoto – Japanese Flower Print
Condition
Excellent condition
Provenance
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
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