Japanese Nobleman & Samurai Court Dress Costume Lithographs, 1852
€ 270
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1852
Mapmaker / artist
Dutch, circa 1852
Technique
Original hand-colored lithographs
Sheet size
26.3 × 17 cm (10.4 × 6.7 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14288-16 & BG-14288-17
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Good antique condition with age toning, scattered foxing, and minor edge wear consistent with age and handling. One print shows small marginal irregularities and light handling marks. The original hand-coloring remains fresh and attractive.
About this sheet
1852 Japanese Nobleman & Samurai Court Dress Costume Lithographs
A refined and highly decorative pair of original mid-19th century hand-colored lithographs depicting Japanese noble and ceremonial dress during the late Edo period. One print portrays an elegant Japanese nobleman accompanied by his attendant, complete with swords and woven hat, while the second depicts a figure in formal gala attire wearing richly layered ceremonial robes and carrying traditional swords.
Produced for a European audience during the early period of Western fascination with Japan, these lithographs belong to the tradition of ethnographic costume studies that combined travel imagery, cultural curiosity, and decorative artistry. The compositions are especially elegant, emphasizing posture, costume detail, and social hierarchy through carefully observed garments and accessories. The restrained yet vivid palette of blues, greens, whites, and reds gives the pair exceptional decorative balance.
Together the prints create a sophisticated visual ensemble with strong Japonesque appeal. The combination of ceremonial robes, samurai swords, and attendant imagery gives the set a refined narrative quality that works exceptionally well in modern interiors, libraries, studies, and curated wall arrangements. The large margins and delicate original hand-coloring further enhance their presentation value when framed side-by-side.
These works display beautifully in dark walnut, black lacquer, or ebonized frames with generous ivory mats, particularly in Japandi, eclectic, or classical interiors. The pair also works well as part of a larger salon wall of Asian and ethnographic imagery.
The prints are original antique lithographs, not reproductions. The pieces are sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be to scale.
