Title: Amerika-sō Aishū Uraga Tsu Torai Emaki Ken-ichi and Makuni (Picture Scroll of the Arrival of the Uragazu Migrants from the Sagami Province of America Volumes 1 and 2), Circa 1853. A Set of Two Rare Black Ship Scrolls of the Perry Expedition, One with Six Fully Painted Scenes, and the Other with Unique Ink Drawings
Author: Kuwajima Tsunetoku
Condition: Very Good
An extraordinarily rare, Late Edo Period example of a Black Ship Scroll set. This is one of the examples which appears to have been produced in the same year of the first expedition depicted here, as the inscribed date states it was produced in the Sixth Year of the Kaei Era, by one Kuwajima Tsunetoku.
The work represents one of the scarce, illustrated Japanese accounts of Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s serving as a contemporary account to the initial actions which would lead to the eventual opening of Japan, albeit actions which included a show of military force.
The six paintings of the first scroll are those of the first expedition and look to have been produced with some skill, as well as having been painted rather brightly. The illustrations represent a firsthand account of how the Japanese public felt and reacted to the arrival of the expedition, and their initial thoughts on what the Americans were like, at least appearance-wise.
The scroll begins with an unfinished painting of what is likely Perry’s flagship, the USS Susquehanna, a rather curious choice to leave it as such.
The second painting displays several American soldiers of different rank and in different attire, from the Foot Soldier, up to an officer of rank.
The third painting displays a variety of various troop instruments and tools, including a rowboat.
The fourth painting depicts an American procession of troops, led by a military band, making their march to Kurihama. There are two younger troops carrying red boxes containing letters from President Fillmore to be presented to Emperor Komei, and there are several more distinct officers, including one which is likely to be Commodore Perry himself.
The fifth painting is a large scene of troop formations of the three fief lords who were charged with protecting Edo Bay and providing security for Perry’s visit.
The sixth and final painting is a fairly large scene of Edo Bay, with the various islands, landmarks, and forts detailed in length.
Normally, this would be the end, but amazingly, there is a second Black Ship Scroll to accompany this work, being another similarly produced example of 1853. This particular example is less detailed, and the drawings are all done by ink, but quite a few of these are rather unique interpretations, and not the common series of scenes. There are seven large sheets of drawings, beginning as such:
The first drawing is that of a large steamship frigate, potentially being Perry’s flagship, the USS Susquehanna.
The second large sheet of drawings is a bird’s eye view drawing of the ship itself, an uncommon inclusion.
The third and fourth sheet of drawings are that of various American and foreign troops, including one drawing his bow and arrow.
The fifth and sixth sheets of drawings are a large depiction of Edo Bay, heavily shaded.
The seventh and eight sheets of drawings display the various islands, and the expedition path the Perry Expedition took to make their eventual landing.
The paintings and drawings have been laid down and bound in scroll format, with brown covers, rather recently it seems, as the box inscription reads, "March 8, 2006, by Saito Juichiro”. Both scrolls are stored in a double box system, with one regular wooden box, and another lacquerware wooden box to accompany that as well.
Two emakimono handscrolls on paper, 26.5 x 344 cm; 28 x 340 cm
These emakimono are in very good shape, with minimal rubbing and wear to the covers. There are some repaired wormtracks throughout, heavier to the first scroll.