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First Carpentry Work of the Year (Chôna hajime)


手斧初め
Ryûryûkyo Shinsai (Japanese, 1764?–1820)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1801–18 (Kyôwa 1–Bunka 15)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Kokonotsugiri; 13.6 x 18.2 cm (5 3/8 x 7 3/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.20043
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Mizuta Museum, Surimono (2004), cat. no. 201
DescriptionThe beginning of the New Year for carpenters was celebrated as an annual event at the Sensô-ji temple in Asakusa on the 11th day of the 1st month.
Signed Ryûryûkyo Shinsai ga
柳々居辰斎画
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.