Kokeshi Scroll, Original, OLD

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NAME: Japanese Kokeshi scroll w/original wood box

SIZE: 6.1' x 1.68' (186cm x 51.3cm), picture 3.1' x 1.4' (93cm x 42.7). These measurements were taken from the description I purchased from. I do not want to handle it more than necessary to measure myself.

CONDITION: Old scrolls have a lot of age issues as they are generally made of paper and paper does not age well. This one is no exception.

There are creases (paper stiffens with age and they may be better called cracks but they are not torn) and some tiny black spots which are probably bug droppings. Two round spots above the larger doll's heads are probably acid damage from being rolled over or under heads for years. Some discoloring.

Scrolls are often made with two cloth or paper strands hanging from the top. This one has them built in. Panels of paper are attached to these. One spot has come loose and from going over and under the strip, has some damage on the edge.

NOTES: Very well made, original art work scroll. The box has protected this well. The box still has the two wood end scroll holders. The scoll end caps are wood. From my limited Japanese antique knowledge, my guess, and it's only a guess, is that this is from the first half of Showa (s=1926-1989) or 1930's - 40's. Partially based on the aged paper and the wooden box. Wooden boxes were/are seldomly used after the war as the costs made their general use prohibitive. I have not tried to research the kokeshi.

This should give years of enjoyment still. Do not hang in sunlight or near a heat source. Often scrolls tear by the hangers and if and when this happens, the picture iteself and be cut away (with the silk border) and framed. This is often the only way to "save" a scroll.

For a matter of information, there are not a lot of kokeshi scroll around. Either they didn't make it through the years or there weren't a lot made. I've seen a total of less than a dozen in over 7 years I have been purchasing in Japan, the last one having sold for a little less than this price and had cracks all the way through (every inch or two) as well as fraying at some of the cracks. This was purchased 5 years ago when the dollar was much stronger and has been stored or stowed away.

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 17 June, 2012.