Some Help with Japanese artwork

[pumsan]

Hi,

I received a Japanese scroll, a Kakemono I think they are called as a present.

The link to the Photos is here Photo Album - Imgur

The scroll was brought from a local antique seller with very little information other than "it's old and Japanese as well as a painted and not a screen, made from silk".

I was wondering if anyone on these forums could identify the painter, and the saying, or point me in the write direction.

Thank you for your help

[ryuurui]

The painter's 雅号 (pen name) is 明園, and the red seal's seal scrip characters confirm it.

[ryuurui]

The painter's 雅号 (pen name) is 明園, and the red seal's seal scrip characters confirm it. Also, I doubt the scroll is very old as it has a plastic 軸 (axis), which also makes me wonder if it is real silk. Nonetheless, looks good. First decent writing I saw on scrolls posted here, painting is enjoyable as well. Do you know how to take care of a hanging scroll?

p.s. could someone please put those two posts of mine together, i pressed quote instead of edit while adding more info.

[pumsan]

Thank you Ryuurui,

Do you happen to know the translation of the saying, and the writing on the back ?.

In regards to the bottom, its plastic capping with wood core, as one side of the pole isn't glued. I do not know how to take care of scrolls and I am weary of using anything but a duster, and even then I do not touch the painting. I was considering constructing / buying a frame/display case for it.

Edit,

Google translate gives me the painter's name as phonetically: Akezono, can't seem to find any more on the author

There is repair tape on the back of the scroll at the bottom, so the bottom may not be original.

[ryuurui]

The text goes 深山？雪　(deep in the mountains, ? snow). I cannot read the third kanji, i'd need to search some cursive script dictionaries. Basically the text describes the painting, it is most likely some 熟語 (idiom). Both writings (front and the back) have the same phrase written on. The simple reason for it is, that you do not have to unroll the whole scroll to see what's written on it. The same text should be on the box, with calligrapher's / painter's seal pressed on it.

The name of the artist, well this is a pen name so readings can be many. "Meien" would be one of them. It means "pure garden" or "pure (clear) park". 明園 . But the meaning of this pen name can be specific. For instance it can be a reference to a place he was born, or anything really (like a pure aura of the garden at dawn). Pen names have hidden meanings.

Well, if you have a box for the scroll, you should roll it up every 10-15 days (but can be as long as a month or two) and let it rest. Also, if this is silk, you should buy some insect repellant pouch or a sachet (they are called in Japanese 虫止め,　mushidome) and insert it inside the box with a rolled up scroll. In fact, even if it is a usual cloth you should do the same. After few days, you can unroll the scroll and hang it again

There is a special way of rolling up a scrol. Not sure how is your Japanese, but here you go:

http://honakote.com/?mode=f5



Final knot should loiok like this:



The cord can be undone by a single pull.

Anyway, when you roll up the scroll, handle it by the axis, so you wont smudge the painting, as such:



Gently pulling it down by the sides to tighten the rolled up material (but do it with feeling and not too strong).

The ink is waterproof once aplied on paper, but do not use wet cloth for cleaning the surface of the scroll. I do not think that dusting it is necessary at all. The thing you need to be especially careful about is the seal, which may stay "wet" for a long time.

Keep it hanging away from direct sunlight, as it might damage the paper. If it is real Xuan paper it should not turn yellow, however, if you have smokers in your house it might as well, with time.

Putting scroll in the frame will ruin it, as you cannot unmount it from the scroll, and mounting technique for the frame is slightly different (more rigid). I'd leave it as it is.

Lastly, the palce you hanged it is not very good. It's in a doorway isnt it. First of all it's not well displayed, and two, passing people may damage it.
Not sure how much space you have at home, but one should arrange the space around the scroll, not the other way around. Only then it will reveal all of its secrets.

[pumsan]

Wow, thanks

I'll do some more research, see if I can dig up anymore on the pen name, though from what you've outlined, I don't think I will.

Thanks for the scroll-care advice. Currently It is in a doorway, though there is a mirror directly opposite it, so it reflects as they are walking into the door. Picture below (note: I couldn't help but show of my Bogu & Iaito hehe, made the stands myself)

http://www.japanforum.com/forum/atta...1&d=1303204586

[ryuurui]

I can see you are heading towards the Japanese interior. Nice.

I know this will be tricky to achieve in the western countries, but here is a picture of my old calligraphy studio when i was living in Saitama. The hanging scroll there is one of my calligraphy works (飛龍, flying dragon). Golden silk with matt charcole gray framing, and cedar wood axis.



I cant wait till I move back to a place with a Japanese style roon and can arrange it once more to my liking.

On this picture, the scroll is ruling the ambience inside the room. That's how calligraphy should be displayed.

[pumsan]

Wow, that is nice, I'm impressed.

Though I am a lay person when it comes to Japanese interiors. I'm trying to hold off buying till I move into a more permanent residence.

Thanks again for your help. now, to find/make a scroll box, I enjoy carpentry and it saves money so I will use the net to spec my box.

[ryuurui]

Scroll boxes are sually made of Paulownia tree. They are called kiribako (桐箱). The wood is very light and delicate, similar to balsa.



They come with paper wrapping made of thick paper.

Making a box for a scroll is quite a challlenge, as the carpenters do not use glue for all the parts, only the outter frame. Parts fit perfectly into their places. Expensive boxes are not glued at all, only assembled by means of small wooden bolts.



I forgot to add that you may also want to look for fuuchin (風鎮) which is a "wind wieght" being hanged at the sides of the axis, to stop the scroll from dancing on the draft. Some of those can be quite pricey.

[pumsan]

Thank you, too informative