Morning Glory and Cranes: Autumn no. 3

Information

Title	Morning Glory and Cranes: Autumn no. 3 Kiku fūchō aki jūgo 菊風鳥　秋十五
Date	27/12/1883
Publisher	Ōkura Magobei 大倉孫兵衛
Woodcarver	Umezawa Minokichi 梅澤巳之吉
City	Kyoto & Edo

Artist seal	Bairei 楳嶺
Censorship seal(s)	(left margin) otodoke Meiji jūroku nen jūni gatsu nijūnana nichi 御届明治十六年十二月廿七日 (right margin) 組合証 kumiai akashi Guild certified
Blockcutter’s (and/or) printer’s) seal(s)	horikō Umezawa Minokichi 彫工梅澤巳之吉
Inscription	下京第三組玉藏町百三十一番地　筆者　幸野豊 Shimogyō dai-3-gumi Tamakurachō 131 banchi hissha Kōno Toyo (Bairei’s address in Kyoto, author: Kōno Toyo) 東京日本橋通一丁目十九番地　出版人　大倉孫兵衛 Tōkyō Nihonbashidōri 1-chōme 19 banchi shuppanjin Ōkura Magobei (publisher’s address in Tokyo, publisher: Ōkura Magobei)

Width	15,1 cm
Height	21,1 cm

Object number	SH2023-CB-04
iterature references	complete set: https://pulverer.si.edu/node/816/title
Credit Line	Collection Japan Museum SieboldHuis, gift of Chris Blom, 2023

Description

From a series of 50 prints that depict and describe flowers and birds in encyclopedic style, divided in the four seasons. The prints were also bound and sold in two sets; one for autumn and winter and one for spring and summer. The series was later reissued without the decorative frame and descriptive texts.

This particular set was treated with the technique for making crêpe paper. The process of creating crêpe prints (chirimen) goes as follows: after printing, the sheet is moistened and, together with other sheets, wrapped around a cilinder, after which the roll is compressed. This is repeated from various angles, causing the print to reduce in size and obtains a wrinkly texture. Chirimen were especially popular among the French public in the late 19th century and were exported in great numbers around that time.