Decorative Papers

Decorative Papers

Decorative Papers with block printed motifs of Japanese dance and theatre roles doll representations Sakura Ningyo A: White paper with a printed design of figures light blue back ground with white cloud wave butterfly cherry blossom and tortoise shell design accented with red and green flowers and leaves. Starting at left top figures printed in blue red green yellow purple and black are:- male Noh character with shishi mask in right hand; female dancer in striped kimono; seated Biwa musician/singer; merchant class dancer; waitress holding food dish; Noh lion dancer on platform; Yakko dancer; Shinto priest with tall yellow hat; medicine man advertising Tamaya store; maneki (barker) figure in rural clothing; woman dancing with yellow fan; dancing woman in front of boat holding basket; Kabuki actor dressed as demon (oni); young girl with one leg maneki (circus barker); mother holding baby visiting shrine (fuku mask); figure with foot on monkey (childrens' story); seven hat dancer (musumi dojoji); courtesan in front of battledore; male dancer dressed formally with fishing pole; Kuge nobleman with eboshi hat Mube mountain; Hosekai assoc. medicine man holding fan; woman in white with yellow parasol (Yuki Onno); female dancer in yellow kimono surrounded by large plum blossoms; travelling woman in striped kimono holding large hat pine branches; monk carrying branch of red flowers over shoulder; woman in yellow striped kimono is Shikoku dancer with green hat (Awawa Odori); young boy mochi pounder with pestle on his shoulder (moon viewing time); female musician with hand drum; travelling merchant or young acolyte (samurai hairstyle) beggar; dancer in red holding water buckets. Character at lower right "top" or beginning. B: Printed with blue background:- white motifs of game pieces with yellow tags and black kanji Title: Suzuri Sukushi (composition of game pieces) made by Isei Tatsu printers. Shogi pieces hokko (fire fighter and police dept.) logos and lanterns puzzle pieces. Fire fighters between fires played games. C & D: 2 sheets - pink and white background is printed with white squares which are labled in black kanji. They appear to represent various kabuki characters (like Seroku) four of the squares show accoutrement - such as swords fans hats sythe and buckets. E & F: 2 sheets - pale yellow background with scattered motifs and yellow orange red blue green and black: Peony crane halberd fans clouds plum blossoms wagon wheels drum head lantern arrow flute and bats. On top of these are various shapes of paper with masks drawn in outline. The accoutrement identify Kabuki characters. G & H: 2 sheets - featuring Noh masks printed background divided into five segments with drawings of theatre masks scattered on top. Segment with blue green gold stylized cherry blossoms has a mask of an old man with a beard resting on a pillow a fan and a black box and a woman's headdress lying on top. Segment with red background decorated with green and gold triangles has a demon mask with yellow eyes a noblewoman's mask a book with Takasago song (sailing away) and a feather fan lying on top. Purple segment with gold pine motifs has a noblewoman's mask and a pine branch stuck in a stand on top. Blue segment and yellow clouds has an old man's mask a young man's mask and a book (Hagaoromo angels) and a fan on top. Yellow green and blue plaid segment has a demon mask with yellow horns another demon mask with yellow eyes a hat fan bow and arrows on top. I & J: 2 sheets - red back ground with poem game cards (Karuta) outlined in blue with poetry and various motifs decorating the cards. the motifs include: Mt. Fuji Ikebana (Flower Arrangement) Swords Painting Brush Frog Pine needles cormorant fishing gourd and a hut. Game cards give first verse and players must give second verse (incl. Japanese national anthem).

1996.010.295