An unusually thick & heavy woodblock (378 x 325 mm.), carved on both sides.
[China: late Qing].
Woodblocks are invaluable historical artifacts in East Asian history, serving as key instruments in the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. The printing process involves brushing ink onto the carved surface, pressing a sheet of paper onto it, and rubbing it with a printing pad or brush to transfer the inked negative impression. While best known for printing side-stitched codices, woodblocks were also historically used for various kinds of single-sheet ephemera that were popular not only as reading material but for their iconic or religious significance.
This Chinese woodblock was used to print a New Year’s picture (Ch. nianhua 年畫), a type of sometimes-multicolor prints depicting Daoist deities and sometimes literary characters commonly used for decorating one’s home during the Spring Festival. While the genre is nearly as old as Chinese woodblock printing itself, it reached the height of its popularity during the Qing period (1644-1912).
Our woodblock, engraved on both sides, illustrates a sword-holding deity surrounded by two attendants. The main figure is likely to be the deified Emperor Xuanwu 玄武, who holds the Ursa Major sword and is believed to be a protective deity for households and nations. The woodblock ingeniously adopts the sophisticated technique of taoyin 套印 multicolor printing for a popular ephemera, as its recto (inked in black) and verso (inked in green?) are carefully aligned to produce a single bicolor image.
In fine condition. Split and carefully rejoined with a peg.
Price: $1,350.00
Item ID: 11605
