Tsukurimono Shukō no Tane (Ideas for Fabricated Things)

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Tsukurimono Shukō no Tane ["Ideas for Fabricated Things"] 

Akatsuki, Seiō [Kanenari] [created by]; Kirōtei, Rikimaru [preface by]; Matsukawa, Hanzan [illustrated by]. 

[Ōsaka]: Aoki Sūzandō, [ca. Meiji period (1880-90s)?].

A Meiji printing of Matsukawa Hanzan's album of tsukurimono (lit. "fabricated things") - objects, legendary characters, and creatures constructed from repurposed daily utensils and tools. From the Edo period onwards tsukurimono were assembled and displayed at exhibitions, events like matsuri (festivals), and gatherings as a type of spectacle or attraction (misemono). The 38 tsukurimono in this work are mainly humorous and playful. Each illustration is captioned with a title and a list of the items used. Some also feature the name of the constructed object's creator and a note on the theme of the items used. A few of the illustrations are accompanied by a short poem. The work includes a section titled Tsukurimono Tomeyō no Den that describes the process of making the objects, with a particular focus on how to adhere materials to each other. The volume is the shohen or zenpen (first series) of the work; a nihen (second series) was also published. For more information on tsukurimono, please see Ornament (Kazari): An Approach to Japanese Culture (1994) and History of Art in Japan (2018) by the art historian Tsuji Nobuo. A fascinating work on a virtually forgotten craft that blends decoration with amusement.

First series (in one part). One four-hole-bound (yotsumetoji) volume, complete, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Light soiling and wear to original wrappers. Label to upper wrapper. Occasional marks and light foxing internally. Small tears to pastedowns. 3, 23 [actually 18, deliberately mis-paginated by the publisher]. Leaves 22 and 23 bound out of order. 22.4 x 15.5 cm.

Tsukurimono Shukō no Tane (Ideas for Fabricated Things)
Price: $680.00 (USD)