Kiso no Oroku Combs thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Japan, Room 45, The Toshiba Gallery

Kiso no Oroku Combs

Woodblock Print
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'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Kiso no Oroku Combs (assigned by artist)
  • A Compendium of Famous Artisans (series title)
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 createdNovember 20, 2003
Record URL
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