Published shortly before his death in 1858, Wrestling Matches between Mountains and Seas is one of Hiroshige’s last works. The concept was to depict mountains along the shore, with the contrast between land and sea compared to a dynamic bout between two wrestlers. Originally intended to total 140 prints, comprising 70 pairs of landscapes and seascapes for each of Japan’s seventy provinces, only 10 pairs of the series came to be published with ten prints of mountains and ten prints of harbours. A gourd-shaped fan (gunbai uchiwa) used by referees for sumo matches is used as the title cartouche for the series. The series comprises of:
- Mount Yuga in Bizen Province (Bizen Yugayama) - Kamewari Pass in Echigo Province (Echigo Kamewari toge) - Elephant-head Mountain in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Zozuzan) - Mount Arima in Settsu Province (Settsu Arimayama) - Yunoo Pass in Echizen Province (Echizen Yunoo toge) - Mount Kiyozumi in Awa Province (Awa Kiyozumiyama) - Mount Kaso in Kazusa Province (Kazusa Kasozan) - Mount Oyama in Sagami Province (Sagami Oyama) - Mount Tatsu in Harima Province (Harima Tatsuyama) - Mount Tateyama in Etchu Province (Etchu Tateyama) - Mouth of the Aji River in Settsu Province (Settsu Ajikawaguchi) - Kisarazu in Kazusa Province (Kazusa Kisarazu) - Harbor at Muro in Harima Province (Harima Muro-no-tsu) - Tanokuchi in Bizen Province (Bizen Tanokuchi) - Mikuni in Echizen Province (Echizen Mikuni) - Niigata in Echigo Province (Echigo Niigata) - Harbor at the Old Provincial Capital in Etchu Province (Etchu Kokokufu minato) - Kominato in Awa Province (Awa Kominato) - Uraga in Sagami Province (Sagami Uraga) - Marugame in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Marugame) Post Lot Text This lot has been imported from outside the EU for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on the invoice. Please see Conditions of Sale for further information.
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Condition report
A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.
The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
We have sought to record changes in the condition of this lot acquired after its initial manufacture. - Generally fine impressions, excellent colours and condition overall. - 16 prints are the first edition (with variegated title cartouche), 4 prints are the second edition. - Two prints with vertical folds, four prints with binding holes to the right margin, one print with minor soiling to margins. - A few very small, expert restorations in a few places and some very minor trimming to some prints. - Mount Yuga in Bizen Province with light soiling, rubbing and minor creasing.
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Lot 48Sale 18945
The complete set of Wrestling Matches between Mountains and Seas (Sankai mitate zumo)UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)Estimate: GBP 20,000 - 30,000
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