Search Results: collection of late nineteenth century photographs

[Japan].. (circa 1870s-1890s).. 94 small handcoloured albumen photographs all approx 8.6 x 13.4 cm (most in landscape), many with studio captions and numbers, in faded but sound condition. A remarkable assemblage; with many studies of geisha, portraits, scenes of rural and traditional life including a few of wrestlers, samurai, and musicians, and famed studio images. From the estate of well known Hong Kong artist, historian and collector, Arthur Hacker. .

The material ranges from standard fare (iconic structures, picturesque landscapes, exotic costumes) to most interesting and unusual street-level documentary images. These large-format prints (84 are approximately 205 × 270 mm each, three are a little larger, and two are panoramas measuring 120 × 300 mm) have never been mounted, and judging by the freshness of the extensive handcolouring, they have barely seen the light of day. Trifling blemishes to a small number of prints (mainly slight creases to the edges, two with a very short bottom-edge tear, and two with minor foxing); overall, the collection is in fine condition. We believe the photographer to be Kusakabe Kimbei in many (if not all) instances. Each photograph is now individually housed in a Mylar sleeve with an acid-free card support. [89 items].