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Please could you help me with this enquiry regarding the attached pictures I purchased in and antique fair in Oxford,England.
I have no idea what they are or there worth as I brought them because I liked them. I would be very
grateful for any information regarding these painting.
Thank you

They look like Japanese prints. The pics aren't sharp enough for me to recognize the signature or seal, and I don't recognize the subject matter.

From the brightness of the colors, I would suspect they are not too old; framed prints that have been displayed often/usually have duller colors.

Thank you for your reply any information regarding these painting gratefully received, as I have not been able to get any information by searching the net.

These do look like (woodblock ?) prints, and some of these will fade if sunned. However, some of the colors on the older editions of some of the great printmakers were vibrant to the point of being garish. Many prints were issued again and again in successive editions and varying color schemes.. The value of early versus late editions may vary widely, making careful homework a must. Like so many things, easy generalizations may be of use for first approximations but not for specifics. A useful website for same is under "Floating Islands", if I remember correctly.

If you buy something because you love it and without expectation that "you saw something just like it on Antiques Roadshow and it was worth a pile", you will never pay too much. As your tastes change with greater exposure, you can chalk up early purchases that no longer please as part of the learning curve.

Michael

These are Japanese woodblook prints from the Meiji period. If you provide better detail of the lower left of the right print, we may be able to provide more info.

Also, hang them in reverse positions. These are part of a diptych (or triptych). as you can see, the left print is a continuation of the right print.

Cheers,
Stan

These are Japanese woodblock prints. I believe you have two panels of a triptych.

The pertinent information is all in the cartouche in the lower left of the first print you've posted. Unfortunately, it's a little too small to read.

If I had to guess I'd say the artist was Chikanobu and the date around 1890 or so.

I worked on the title cartouche with my Nihongo Shodo sensei, but we didn't come up with much. It's very difficult to read.

Anyway, the first line on the right says something like "Aoi take matsu" - "blue bamboo pinetree", which makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Then it says something like "loving flower" and makes reference to having a picnic? And then it mentions the grave of Shogun Ienori and I think Arashi Yama - a famous place in Kyoto from what I gather.

Not much, but it's the best we could do with the odd script...

Steve sent me the cartouche from the lower left. I couldn't quickly make a signature out of it and haven't had the time to work on it.

Maybe someone else can help.

Cheers,
Stan

Once again thank you for the information and your time. I have searched lots of web sites and never got close to finding out about theses prints. Thank you.

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