[KAWABE, MASAO]. 川辺正夫.

日本装飾大鑑. 5巻. [Nihon sōshoku taikan. 5-kan].
[Encyclopedia of Japanese Designs. 5 Volumes in 2].

[Japan]. [芸艸堂]. [Unsōdō]. Early Taishō (c. 1910s). Stock ID #221446

Five volumes bound in two. Accordion-style binding. Exceptionally fine colour woodblock prints throughout, some full-page and others with multiple images per page, with occasional silver heightening. 36.5 x 26 cm.


Collation challenging owing to the absence in this work of pagination and a plate list. Collated against the copy held by the National Diet Library (NDL), Tokyo. This copy lacks three woodblock-printed plates (one from Volume II and two from Volume III). Calligraphy leaves from Volumes I and II are lacking; the calligraphy leaf from Volume IV is bound into Volume V (not present in the NDL copy). The introductory leaf and publisher’s imprint leaf in Volume V are also lacking. The order of plates in Volume III differs from that of the NDL copy, though all plates are present in the final three volumes.


Accordion-bound in cloth-covered boards with printed title labels to both upper covers; boards rubbed and worn. Despite the losses noted above, the surviving plates are striking impressions, richly coloured and finely printed.

Although our copy does not have publication details as they missing, the format and dimensions correspond to the first edition of Taishō 4 [1915], originally issued in five separate volumes. The style of the title label, paper, and cloth are consistent with the digital copies we have compared this copy to and with the production of the Taisho period.

Kawabe Masao assembled this collection of Japanese designs spanning from the sixth century, beginning in the reign of Empress Suiko, through to the middle of the Edo period (c. 1690–1780). The motifs are drawn from a wide range of sources, including temple lantern decorations, textile patterns, and architectural ornament. They are reproduced here as colour woodblock prints of exceptionally high quality, notable for their precision of line and richness of colour. The volumes were published by Unsōdō, the renowned Kyoto publisher celebrated for its fine woodblock printing. Despite the defects noted above the plates are still very beautiful. Each exceptional woodblock presenting examples of Japanese design rendered with remarkable delicacy and visual depth.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 221446.

Price: $650.00 AU

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