Furusawa Setsuden – 古澤雪田 (1864 – ?) – Rats – 鼠

SOLD. -THANK-YOU!

Furusawa-san was a Samurai-class, Tokyo based painter of the ancient Odawara clan (which flourished for over 280 years) who trained under the great Taki Katei, who was also Samurai-class (until such distinctions were official removed after the Meiji Restoration). From Katei, he became a master of bird and flower painting. This training, he passed on to Moriyama Kouho (b. 1883), who’s date of death is also in question, but is more than likely the same fate of his master, which is the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 that took a heavy toll on the citizens of Tokyo (390,000+ deaths in Japan).

Here, the rat is an ancient auspicious symbol of industriousness and prosperity, on account of its ability to locate and acquire abundant supplies of food.

He is held in the Yoshizawa Memorial Museum of Art, Sano (no. 33, here) / and in the National Diet Library. He was named to the official list of great Tokyo painters in 1889 / featured in the Meiji University Art published works of 1892 / listed on the National list of master painters in 1897 / and listed in the Special Tokyo calligraphic works list of 1899. -Beautifully remounted with a lovely, reflective brocade. Normal toning.

17″ x 46″ – $275 – Price includes shipping worldwide! Comes with a signed and sealed document of authenticity and an email with links to roughly 3 hours worth of further reading and documentary viewing related to the piece. All prices in Canadian dollars. -Paradise Bound on YouTube.