FELICE BEATO, BARON VON STILLFRIED and others

Japanese portraits, occupational studies and views, 1880-81

Details

FELICE BEATO, BARON VON STILLFRIED and others
Japanese portraits, occupational studies and views, 1880-81
221 albumen prints, 140 approx. 3¾ x 5½ in. or the reverse, the remainder mostly approx. 9¾ x 7¾ in. or the reverse, thirty-seven hand-tinted, many numbered in the negatives, a few titled in the negatives, the smaller ones mounted back-to-back three or four-per-page, the larger ones mounted one-per-page on one side only on thick card, several titled in French and with sequence number in pencil on mounts, in original morocco-covered hinged portfolio box, the lid titled in gilt MINNEN FRAN [Memories from] 1878-1882, the side flap titled in gilt JAPAN.

Provenance

Wilhelm von Eckerman, thence by descent. See also lot 98.

Literature

Bennett, Early Japanese Images, pl. 45; Cortazzi & Bennett, Japan, pl. nos. 80, 106, 113, 119; Philipp, Siegert & Wick, Felice Beato in Japan, pl. nos. 140, 146, 151, 155, 172, 191; Worswick, Japan Photographs 1854-1905, p. 77 (illus.).

Lot Essay

A copy of the ship's log details its arrival in Japan at Nagasaki on 31 May 1880 followed by visits to Yobuko, Simonoseki, 'Uchi no Umi', Kobe, Kada, Yokohama, Hakodate and 'Okosiri', returning to Chefoo in China by 19 August 1880. The ship returned to Nagasaki on 17 April 1881, leaving Japan again in July 1881. Of the total quantity, thirty-five of the large prints are portraits, costume studies or occupational scenes as are 136 of the small studies. Portraits include four identified as "La ministre de la Guerre General Oyama", "Le prince imperial du Japon", "Le ministre de la marin Amiral Foromato" and "Le prince Hégashi-Fashimino-onya". Many of the portraits are from negatives by Beato although printed by Stillfried. In this collection few of the portraits are vignetted.

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