Kiso no Oroku Combs
Woodblock Print
1843-1847 (made)
1843-1847 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This 'uchiwa-e' (rigid fan print) design by Hiroshige is from a series depicting legendary artisans. Ryukatei Tanekazu provided the text. The craftswoman shown here is Roku. She is the girl credited with starting the comb-making industry in the mountainous Kiso region of southern Nagano Prefecture. Combs made in the area were named after her.
The text explains how Roku was deeply loyal to her poverty-stricken parents. She prayed regularly for their lot to improve. One night the god of Suwa visited her in a dream and told her to find a particular kind of wood from which to fashion combs. The combs she made proved so popular that her family became rich and prosperous. The text on the shop sign behind her reads 'Meibutsu / Onkushidokoro', meaning 'Famous Product / Comb-maker'.
The text explains how Roku was deeply loyal to her poverty-stricken parents. She prayed regularly for their lot to improve. One night the god of Suwa visited her in a dream and told her to find a particular kind of wood from which to fashion combs. The combs she made proved so popular that her family became rich and prosperous. The text on the shop sign behind her reads 'Meibutsu / Onkushidokoro', meaning 'Famous Product / Comb-maker'.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Titles |
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Materials and techniques | Colour print from woodblocks |
Brief description | Woodblock print, Utagawa Hiroshige I; 'Kiso no Oroku Combs', from the series 'A Compendium of Famous Artisans'; fan print, Japanese, 1843-1847 |
Physical description | Fan print, aiban size. Artist signature: Hiroshige ga. Publisher mark: Ibaya Kyubei. Censor seal: Muramatsu. |
Style | |
Credit line | R. Leicester Harmsworth Gift |
Summary | This 'uchiwa-e' (rigid fan print) design by Hiroshige is from a series depicting legendary artisans. Ryukatei Tanekazu provided the text. The craftswoman shown here is Roku. She is the girl credited with starting the comb-making industry in the mountainous Kiso region of southern Nagano Prefecture. Combs made in the area were named after her. The text explains how Roku was deeply loyal to her poverty-stricken parents. She prayed regularly for their lot to improve. One night the god of Suwa visited her in a dream and told her to find a particular kind of wood from which to fashion combs. The combs she made proved so popular that her family became rich and prosperous. The text on the shop sign behind her reads 'Meibutsu / Onkushidokoro', meaning 'Famous Product / Comb-maker'. |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.2918-1913 |
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Record created | November 20, 2003 |
Record URL |
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