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鯨細工 「當子三月より浅草観世音御境内ニおゐて興行仕候」 「口上あらこ」 「乍憚口上（六行）」 「浪花細工人大江忠兵衛・東都細工人大江和助」 「道具細工人長谷川平吉・竹田由三郎」 「太夫元大坂亀屋福松」
Exhibition of Figures Made from Whalebone at Asakusa Kannon
鯨細工 「當子三月より浅草観世音御境内ニおゐて興行仕候」 「口上あらこ」 「乍憚口上（六行）」 「浪花細工人大江忠兵衛・東都細工人大江和助」 「道具細工人長谷川平吉・竹田由三郎」 「太夫元大坂亀屋福松」
Utagawa Kunitsuru (Japanese, 1807–78)
Japanese
Edo period
1852 (Kaei 5), intercalary 2nd month
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (sumizuri-e); ink on paper
Dimensions
35.5 x 49.3 cm (14 x 19 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.45590
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
http://blog.livedoor.jp/misemono/archives/cat_50049045.html (same as 11.45590)
DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.45590, 11.45632 (same pictures, slight changes in text; same seals but no blockcutter's mark)
Signed
Utagawa Kunitsuru ga
歌川国鶴画
歌川国鶴画
Marks
Censors' seals: Fuku, Muramatsu
Blockcutter's mark: Horikô Asakura ...
改印：福、村松
彫師：
Blockcutter's mark: Horikô Asakura ...
改印：福、村松
彫師：
Inscriptions「御町中様益々御機嫌能く御座遊ばされ恐悦至極に存じ奉り候。随て一昨年中京都、大坂両所において鯨細工興行仕り候処、殊の外御評判に預り、一座喜悦の眉を開き候折柄、御当地御贔屓様方より御招きを蒙り、心魂に撤し有難く、早速罷り下り、浅草観世音の御境内にて興行仕り、則拝覧に入れ候は大鯨金潮時と号し、山海、田野に名有る物等を細工取仕組み、目出度き例（ためし）瑞鳥の鳳凰、或は白龍昇天の鯉魚、其の外花麗の鉢植物、何（いづれ）も海中随一の大魚鯨の髭、骨を以て造り立て、扨て大切には全体十間の大鷲を左右へひらき、此中には種々の機関（からくり）を仕組み、古今珍しき品々にて御覧に入れ奉り候間、何卒初日より永当々々御来駕の程、偏に願上げ奉り候」
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.