Mongata Kiriyō-den (Stencils for Crest-Cutting)

US$240.00

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Mongata Kiriyō-den ["Stencils for Crest-Cutting"]

[Creator unidentified].

[Japan: publisher unidentified, ca. mid-Meiji period (1870-90s)?].

A playful woodblock-printed work on cutting kamon (family crests) from folded paper in a process called monkiri ("crest-cutting"). This process involves cutting out the desired template from the book, laying it on top of a piece of paper that has already been folded in the way instructed, and cutting out the black area. When the section that is cut out is unfolded, a delicate and interesting shape is revealed. This would explain why there are so few examples in databases - the use of the issues required their destruction. This pastime, at its heart a type of origami that allows the folded paper to be cut, is now generally referred to as kirigami. Monkiri is also believed to have been taught to students at terakoya (temple schools). 

One five-hole-bound (itsutsumetoji) volume, presumed complete, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Faint stains to first leaf, slight internal thumbing. [6] leaves including wrappers. 11.6 x 15.6 cm. 

Mongata Kiriyō-den (Stencils for Crest-Cutting)
Price: $240.00 (USD)