An Incense Burner

Provenance

…; purchased from the dealer C.P.J. van der Peet Japanese Prints, Amsterdam, by J.H.W. Goslings (1943-2011), Epse, near Deventer, 1986;¹Coll. cat. Goslings 1999, p. 47, cat. no. 100 by whom donated to the museum, 1991

ObjectNumber: RP-P-1991-641

Credit line: Gift of J.H.W. Goslings, Epse

The artist

Biography

Ryuryukyo Shinsai (n.d., but often given as 1764?-1820; the latter date is definitely incorrect as his last known designs were issued in 1825) is said to have first been follower of Tawaraya Sori, and later of Katsushika Hokusai, who gave him the art-name Shinsai in 1800. His personal name was Masayuki. He was one of the most prolific designers of surimono in the early 19th century and thoroughly explored the possibilities of issuing works in titled series.

Entry

A large incense burner with a cloth around it decorated with peonies. In the foreground a spray of plum.

Incense burners such as this were used for perfuming clothes.

Two poems by Rakuseian [Taijin], and Jakusoan.

The poet Rakuseian was also involved in selecting the poems for the album Kyoka Poems on the Portraits of the Heroes of the Suikoden, Kyoka Suikogadenshu, issued in 1829.²Suga, Chikuho, Kyoka shomoku shusei. Kyoto: Rinsen shoten, 1977, p. 75.

Issued by the poets
Signature reading: Shinsai

Literature

M. Forrer, Surimono in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Leiden 2013, no. 361

Citation

M. Forrer, 2013, 'Ryûryûkyo Shinsai, An Incense Burner, Japan, c. 1820', in Surimono from the Goslings Collection in the Rijksmuseum, online coll. cat. Amsterdam: hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.432523

(accessed 27 July 2025 12:01:59).

Footnotes

¹Coll. cat. Goslings 1999, p. 47, cat. no. 100
²Suga, Chikuho, Kyoka shomoku shusei. Kyoto: Rinsen shoten, 1977, p. 75.