A JAPANESE HANDSCROLL

A JAPANESE HANDSCROLL, KASE-E EDO/MEIJI PERIOD Hand-painted with the Thirty-six Immortal Women Poets (Nishikizuri Onna Sanjurokkasen) from the Heian period (794-1185), each with their name and a waka poem, 11.4m approx. Provenance: From the collection of Reginald Woolley (1912-1993), set designer and director at the Players Theatre Club, Villiers Street, London, and thence by descent. For another depiction of the Thirty-six Immortal Women Poets, see Chobunsai Eishi's series of woodblock prints from the Frederick W. Gookin Collection, Chicago Art Institute, ref. 1939.1710.