Antique Japanese surimono shikishi – bottle gourd and calligraphy, late Edo period

An original Japanese woodblock print on handmade washi, later mounted on thin board for preservation. This work belongs to the small-format private surimono produced in the late Edo period for poetic and artistic circles.

The composition depicts a bottle gourd with a leaf, accompanied by a short calligraphic inscription written in a free semi-cursive manner. Such prints combined image and text and circulated as private gifts, seasonal exchanges, or personal artistic expressions rather than commercial publications.

The character of the printed lines and the restrained colour passages indicate traditional woodblock printing. The later mounting on thin board follows a common preservation practice for small graphic sheets. The spontaneous quality of the calligraphy and the concise composition correspond to the surimono tradition, where visual balance and poetic suggestion were central.

Style note:
The calligraphy is executed in a semi-cursive style (gyōsho).

Condition:
Antique condition. Antique works may show natural signs of age, including toning, light foxing, and surface creases. Please review the photos carefully.

Size (approx.):
21 × 24 cm.

Shipping:
Safe and tracked shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido).

For US buyers: this item enters the United States duty-free.