Lot 162
Japan.- Anonymous (probably early 19th century) Gold and Silver mining at Sado Island, an impressively long scroll, watercolour
Hammer Price: £8,000
Description
Japan.- Anonymous (probably early 19th century) Gold and Silver mining at Sado Island, an impressively long scroll illustrating the process of mining, refining and minting that was undertaken at the Sado Island site, including the entrance of the mine on Aikawa mountain, miners in the mine shafts with many holding lanterns, and the later steps involved in the refining, sale, and transportation of the ore, with explanatory captions in Japanese, watercolour on thin paper laid on linen, scroll with wooden roller, approx. 275 x 11900 mm. (10 3/4 x 468 inches), rolled with silk tie, presented in wooden box with Japanese text on upper lid, [probably early 19th century]
⁂ A highly detailed and expansive scroll, almost 12 metres in length, illustrating the entire series of processes, from mining and smelting to the production of coinage, that were carried out at the Sado Island mine. When the Aikawa gold mine was first discovered in 1601, it transformed Sado and brought prosperity and industry to the island; it quickly became the largest silver and gold mining site in Japan, and is said to have financed the Edo shogunate for several hundred years.
Please note: the scoll was originally owned by Genjiro & Gentaro Matsuki, with signature on the paulownia wood box, from the Edo/Meiji Period.
Description
Japan.- Anonymous (probably early 19th century) Gold and Silver mining at Sado Island, an impressively long scroll illustrating the process of mining, refining and minting that was undertaken at the Sado Island site, including the entrance of the mine on Aikawa mountain, miners in the mine shafts with many holding lanterns, and the later steps involved in the refining, sale, and transportation of the ore, with explanatory captions in Japanese, watercolour on thin paper laid on linen, scroll with wooden roller, approx. 275 x 11900 mm. (10 3/4 x 468 inches), rolled with silk tie, presented in wooden box with Japanese text on upper lid, [probably early 19th century]
⁂ A highly detailed and expansive scroll, almost 12 metres in length, illustrating the entire series of processes, from mining and smelting to the production of coinage, that were carried out at the Sado Island mine. When the Aikawa gold mine was first discovered in 1601, it transformed Sado and brought prosperity and industry to the island; it quickly became the largest silver and gold mining site in Japan, and is said to have financed the Edo shogunate for several hundred years.
Please note: the scoll was originally owned by Genjiro & Gentaro Matsuki, with signature on the paulownia wood box, from the Edo/Meiji Period.
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