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## Antique 1884 Meiji Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Kunimasa IV - Fireworks on the Sumida River**Item Overview:**
* **Artist:** Utagawa Kunimasa IV (Signed *Baido Kunimasa hitsu* / 楳堂国政筆)
* **Date:** Meiji 17 (1884)
* **Series/Title:** *Tokyo meisho no uchi - Sumidagawa suijō hanabi no zu* (Famous Places in Tokyo: View of Fireworks on the Sumida River)
* **Medium:** Authentic woodblock print on tsuchi (Japanese handmade paper), currently hinged/mounted to a paper backing board.
* **Format:** Single oban sheet (approx. 14\" x 9.5\" sheet size, excluding mat)**About the Artwork:**
This fascinating Meiji-era print beautifully illustrates the Westernization of Japan’s elite class during the late 19th century. It features a vivid scene of spectacular fireworks exploding over the Sumida River in Tokyo. Dignitaries and ladies of the court look on from a decorated viewing pavilion—the women clad in elegant, heavily patterned traditional kimono, while the men sport Western-style Meiji military dress uniforms with gold epaulets. Boating spectators flying the Japanese flag navigate the waters below under vibrant, stylized red trees.**Condition Report:**
An authentic, untrimmed antique print with rich color retention (particularly the striking Meiji reds and deep blues).
* **Margins/Edges:** The print shows some edge wear, small tears, and minor paper loss along the top and bottom margins, typical for its age. The image area remains largely unaffected.
* **Mounting:** The print is currently attached/hinged to a backing board with handwritten artist/date notes on the margin and an old price sticker on the lower right corner.
* **Surface:** Minor toning, waves, and handling creases consistent with a 140+ year-old paper artifact. Please review the high-resolution close-up photos carefully to assess condition details.**Shipping & Handling:**
Shipped flat and securely packaged with rigid reinforcement to prevent bending during transit.
