[A PAIR OF ORIGINAL PERIOD COLOR JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINTED FAN PRINTS FROM THE

[Edo n.d. ca. 1830-40]. A pair of Japanese fans, 23 x 22 cm. very good,minor small mended tears, made from a round bamboo brach, split at the fan end into very tiny struts, 2 sheets per fan = 4 color woodcuts in all.* RARE & OBSCURE EXAMPLE * . *** **** *** . . AN ORIGINAL COLOR WOODBLOCK PRINTED PERIOD FAN SET . . * A true folk-art object of imagination and great ingenuity and practicality. Very light & efficient for fanning during the long, hot sultry Japanese monsoon summers. . This fan is nicely done, utilizing an actual period color woodblock prints. . The first shows an elaborately clothed man in decorative silk Kimono, with a Samurai sword [Katana] in his Obi belt, carrying a young girl on his back, with lovely floral background & pastel vegetal colors. . The second is from a Kabuki scene, shows an elaborate Kimono-clad couple: a man holding a long fan, the woman with fancy head-dress, done in aniline dyes, strong in navy blue, red, with some 'gaufrage' [blind embossing] visible on inner Kimono garments. . Nicely done with versos blank, white buff color paper. . Each piece is a miniature work of art and a fine example of the complicated Japanese woodblock printing process. . Each print separate color required one block per color or 20-30 blocks per each color print in some elaborately color printed examples. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** CONDITION: . The fan is reinforced by a circular heavier bamboo piece through a hole in the handle then stitched with cloth, to hold it all fast. . All in all an unusual item, most of these kinds of color woodblock fans were used up keeping cool ! Seldom found in intact condition, still above the average example. . * .