[MAIKO - GEISHA PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS].

[戦前芸者舞妓の生い立ちアルバム]. [Senzen geisha maiko no oitachi arubamu].
[Two Pre-World World II Photograph Albums Depicting the Life of Maiko and Geisha].

Stock ID #216217

Two Japanese photograph albums containing a total of 183 black and white photographs. Some photographs have been removed, one leaf cut in two presumably to remove another photograph/s and four photographs have been intriguingly, deliberately damaged. Two photographs loosely inserted. Some photographs are chipped and there is some silvering evident on a number of the photographs. The two albums are roughly the same size: 16.2 x 25.4cm and 18.6 x 26.8cm. Both are worn and one is bound in black leather with ribbon ties and the other in pictorial Japanese fabric with cord ties. Card leaf in the leather bound album has been repaired at hinge with modern cloth tape not affecting the photographs. Although both albums are well worn they offer very interesting and rarely seen images of the life of maiko and geisha at this time.

A set of two intriguing albums of black-and-white photos some showing family scenes, but many depicting geisha and maiko (training geisha), in some cases with their clients.

One album, which seems to be a little older than the other (probably dating to the 1910s-1920s), has the words Ono and Miyakoya on the front, suggesting that it was compiled by someone name Ono, who ran an inn or hot spring resort called Miyakoya. This album contains some charming photos of children, an image of man on horseback, and another of a young man in an impressively large motor car, but most of the pictures are of geisha or trainee geisha, some of them looking very young. These include studio portrait photos and pictures of women entertaining male customers at parties, as well as a couple of photos which appear to show people performing in plays.

The second album, dating from the 1930s, includes a photo depicting a group of people at the front of a substantial building with a sign reading 'onsen' (hot spring), while another depicts a female entertainer pouring a drink for a military officer. There is a photo of a group of about 30 people including women in geisha attire holding a banner with rising sun flags and an inscription wishing good fortune to the troops of the Imperial Army - possibly part of a celebration seeing soldiers off to the front. Other photos show female entertainers dancing, playing the shamisen or entertaining clients at parties, and playing blind man's bluff, but the album (like the first) also includes pictures of small children: in some cases, family groups with children. There has been some damage to the album. A page in the second album has been cut in half, and in both albums the face of one woman in a group photo has been very deliberately scratched out - was the subject of the photo trying to conceal her identity, or did someone really dislike her?

A fascinating insight into the world of prewar geisha.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 216217.

Price: $1,800.00 AU

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