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Crane by Bamboo on Gold Background

Kakemono, unique work, 179 x 52 cm
Product number: 6172

Sold – no longer available

This piece was handmade by Jikoji Sanenaka and was a one-of-a-kind work. It cannot be reordered and will never exist in this form again. The page stays online as part of our archive.

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Details about the sold piece

  • Height 179 cm
  • Width 52 cm
  • Item Type Kakemono
  • Jikusaki Wood
  • Material Honshi Silk
  • Period of Creation Edo (1603–1868)
  • Technique Hand-Painted
  • Unique Work Yes
Signature / Stamp:
Jikoji Sanenaka
Sold

No longer available

Description

This finely crafted hanging scroll dates from the Edo period, its precious brocade mounting with floral pattern already testifying to the former esteem in which the work was held. At the center stands a crane turning elegantly toward bamboo branches, while in the washed background a second, only faintly indicated bird becomes visible.

Cranes are among the most significant auspicious symbols in Japanese art and stand for longevity, fidelity, and grace. The reduced brushwork, set down with a confident hand, and the delicate washing of the plumage reveal the characteristic pictorial language of the classical Kano school, to which the artist of this work was also closely affiliated.

The sheet bears the signature and seal of Jikoji Sanenaka (1787-1861). As a testament to painting of the early 19th century, this hanging scroll combines art-historical value with timeless decorative effect and is a special addition for collectors of antique Japanese hanging scrolls. Those interested in the origins of bird painting in Japan will find in this well-preserved piece a vivid example of that style-defining tradition.

Frequently asked

No – as a one-of-a-kind piece it exists in a single example only.
We would be glad to look for one. Get in touch with the details of the object you are looking for and we will see what we can do.
Because the two pieces of information speak about different things: the period designation describes the object – support, colors, condition – while the signature reflects which name appears on the painting. In most cases there is no attempt at deception behind this, but rather Japanese painting training: copying from workshop models was the curriculum for centuries, an utsushi is regarded as a bow to the teacher, workshops signed with the master's name, and artist names were passed down within a school. Such a hanging scroll is therefore not a forgery, but a hand-painted one-of-a-kind that continues the formal language of its school – just not the work of the famous name, and priced accordingly. We explain this in detail in the guide Why does a kakemono often bear the signature of an artist long deceased?.