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His Majesty the Emperor Seated upon the Throne in the Shinshinden Palace at the Enthronement Ceremony (Tennô heika Shishinden gosokui-shiki mishô no Takamikura), from the series Commemorating the Imperial Ceremonies (Gotairei kinen)


「御大礼記念 天皇陛下紫宸殿御即位式昇御之高御座」
"The 'Takamikura' H.i.M. The Present Emperor's coronation ceremony at 'Shinshinden.'"
Tanaka Ryôzô (Japanese, 1874–1946)
Publisher: Shôbidô (Japanese)
Japanese
Taishô era
1915 (Taishô 4), printed November 5, published November 8

Medium/Technique Color lithograph; ink on paper
Dimensions 40 x 54.6 cm (15 3/4 x 21 1/2 in.)
Credit Line Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Collection
Accession Number2008.521
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints
The enthronement of the Meiji emperor in 1868 had been conducted using an ordinary type of Japanese throne, a square platform with curtains, already in use for various occasions at the court. For the Taishō enthronement of 1915, however, a special octagonal throne was constructed, based on historical research into older customs. A similar but slightly smaller throne was built for the empress. The two thrones are kept at the imperial palace in Kyoto and were used again in 1928, 1990, and 2019. Since the last two enthronements were held in Tokyo rather than Kyoto, the thrones were temporarily transported there for the occasion.

Signed Tanaka Ryôzô (artist, printer, and publisher)
田中良三
ProvenancePurchased by Fred Sharf; 2008, given by Fred Sharf to the MFA