Toshi Yoshida
Toshi Yoshida Japanese Woodblock Prints
吉田 遠志
Toshi Yoshida - Hummingbird and Fuchsia
Picture 11 of 43
| Artist: | Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995) |
| Title: | Hummingbird and Fuchsia |
| Date: | 1971 |
| Edition: | Lifetime edition, pencil signed at lower right. |
| Publisher: | Yoshida Studio |
| Printer: | Yoshida Studio |
| Carver: | Yoshida Studio |
| Description: | Double oban size print - the image is 11 3/4" wide x 19 1/2"
high and the sheet size is 14 3/4" wide x 22" high. This woodblock print may have been made in the US
while Toshi Yoshida was teaching printmaking techniques there in the
early 70's. |
I have this print. I do not know if it is an origial pencil signed or its worth today. ?Also if there were posthumous prints sold of this work?
Thank You, Lucrecia
Hi Lucrecia,
This Toshi Yoshida woodblock print is not available often. There are both lifetime and posthumous editions of this woodblock print.
If you compare the Toshi Yoshida signature and verso of your woodblock print with the examples given in http://japaneseartsgallery.com/2011/01/06/toshi-yoshida-posthumous-print-signature/ then that should help you detremine if yours is a lifetime or posthumous print. You can see an example of the posthumous version of this Toshida Yoshida woodblock print for sale at $225USD on http://www.fujiarts.com/cgi-bin/item.pl?item=141143.
If your still not sure if your woodblock print is lifetime/posthumous then you can send me a photo/scan of your print and I’ll take a look. If you’d like to do this then let me know and I’ll send your my email address.
A pencil signed Sangetsu-an, Hakone Museum woodblock print which was in my view in poor overall condition but with good colour sold on ebay recently for $158USD. The highest I’ve seen paid for a pencil signed print is $350USD but that was a while ago.
Regards,
Mike.
Hi, Mike. I have the same print, and I’ll be darned if I can determine if I have a posthumous signature. However, I was going to send you a picture from my phone, and realized I didn’t know how to attach the picutre to the message. Suggestions? Does you website permit sending attachments? Thanks! JWH
Hi Jim,
If your Toshi Yoshida woodblock print has a series of vertically aligned Japanese kanzi characters on the verso then it would be a posthumous print. You can’t upload to the site but try flickr or another photo sharing site and send me the link if you’d like me to take a look at the signature.
Regards, Mike.
Hi, there, Is this one for sell? If so, how much ship to New Zealand? Sorry about the harsh questions, was looking for this piece for long time. Cheers Cheng
Just note that I inquire ( Toshi Yoshida – Plum Tree of the Friendly Garden )
Thanks
Cheng
Hi Cheng,
I currently only have one copy of the Friendly Garden series and am not looking to sell at this time. Take a look at http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/gallery3.htm#Toshi they often have Friendly Garden prints for sale – sometimes only as a set of 3, sometimes as singles. You can also try the “Search 60+ Woodblock Sites” function in my sites sidebar. It check’s most of the sites I found to be useful for woodblock print hunting. If I see one popup anywhere I’ll let you know.
Regards, Mike.
Hi Cheng,
I see an unframed copy the print your are looking for is available on ebay for a buy it now / make offer – http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TOSHI-YOSHIDA-WOODBLOCK-SIGNED-PRINT-1911-1995-/220812583324?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336974a19c
Regards,
Mike.
Thanks for your help, Cheers Cheng
Ich habe dieses Bild geerbt und würde es gerne verkaufen. In der rechten Ecke sind mit Bleistift vier japanische Zeichen geschrieben. Das Bild ist in einem top Zustand und eingerahmt aus der Fränklin Gallery. Was ist dieses Bild denn wert??Danke für eine Antwort
Sorry, I don’t speak German so am using google translation. Which woodblock print do you have (die Holzschnitt haben Sie?)?
I have this print from my parents’ collection and wondered where I should try to sell it: Ebay? galleries? Also, what is URI referring to?
Hi Dave,
I can’t tell which Toshi Yoshida woodblock print your referrng to?
Regads, Mike.
Hi! I have all 3 works of the Friendly Garden and was wandering what the set would be worth together. I imagine, by having the complete set, that it will be worth more. I see that each piece separately is going for $300-360.00. Any insight is much appreciated.
Hi Dean,
As you note $300-360 is fairly common for Friendly Garden woodblock each print.
Given auction seling prices jump around so much I’m not sure I could say the set is worth more than the 3 single prints. Sometimes it seems to be the reverse as people can be reluctant to pay $900+ on a single purchase.
I’ve noted previously that I’ve seen sets sell from $247USD (ebay) to $1600+ at web galleries. At the moment someone is trying to sell single prints from the set on ebay for $2400USD!
Good places to do pricing research are at artfact.com, liveauctioneers.com and artelino.com – they all offer historical searches. ukiyoe-gallery.com sell singles and sets regularly so they’re worth looking at as well. Their latest(?) set sold on sale for $1075 (down from $1750). They usually price single prints at around $500-600.
Regards, Mike.
Thank you for the advice. I will check into these other places as well. I’ve seen the 2 prints on ebay, and they are the same exact frame and matting that I have. Each print that I have also has a green label on the reverse from The Franklin Gallery(1980) with the title by Toshi Yoshida. I know if I do decide to sell I will ask at least $1000.00. I’m also curious to how many of these prints were put into circulation.
Thanks again,
Dean
When I was Marine following Gulf Crisis 1990-91, I was stationed at Camp Fuji, and while in Tokyo on leave I purchased a woodblock print signed (in pencil) by Yoshi Toshida, a beautiful sunrise picture of Mt. Fuji, entitled Mt. Fuji from Ohito, morning. I was wondering if it’s authentic. Does anyone have a copy of his actual signature?
Hi Chris,
Take a look at my signature comparison articles at
http://japaneseartsgallery.com/2010/08/21/toshi-yoshida-signature-comparison/ and
http://japaneseartsgallery.com/2011/01/06/toshi-yoshida-posthumous-print-signature/.
If your still not sure your welcome to send me a photo of the signature on your woodblock print – let me know and I’ll send you my email address.
Regards, Mike.
Is there any way to find out how many of the Silver Pavilion-Kyoto hand signed prints were made?
Hi Howard,
The Silver Pavilion print is an open edition so it’s likely they printed as many as they could sell assuming the carved woodblocks themselves lasted. The print also exists block/stamp signed. You could try searching on the internet but I’ve not really had much success doing that in the past to find out this type of information. Open editions are by their nature open.
Good luck,
Mike.
Hi, My husband and I have a set of the Four Seasons by Toshi Yoshida and the Franklin Mint Gallery of Art from about 1977. Not intersted in selling but have a need to know their worth. Thank you for your help.
I can’t value woodblock prints as such but I can give you and idea of what I’ve see them sell for.
At auction the individual pints sell from around $150 up but that’s a bargin price. At the other end of the price range Web gallery Ukiyoe Gallery sells them at online ‘retail’ pricing between $400 (on sale, or in lesser condition) to $650 each. As the framing was not done using archival/museum quality materials the prints can suffer some danage over time.
I can’t recall having ever seen a full set for sale.
Hi i have a pencil autographed woodblock Toshi Yoshida dated 1926 called “Tiger’s Head” this framed artwork was done by Kanda”s gallery
.Is it possible this is one of his first pieces of work
Toshi Yosdia would have been fifteen in 1926. According to “Yoshida Toshi: Nature, Art and Peace” by Eugene M. Skibbe the first print was Crabs in 1925. Tigers Head in 1926 was most likely his second print. There’s a good chronology of his work given at hanga.com (http://hanga.com/gallery.cfm?ID=6)
I have a pencil-signed copy of “The Embryo.” The original owner purchased it in Japan in the late 1950s and had it framed there. The sides were folded under to fit the frame. I have been unable to locate any information on what this print may be worth, and if it would increase or decrease the value if I had it reframed and matted with the sides folded back out. Your site has given me good information and pointers. Any further suggestions would be appreciated.
Hi Mark,
I’m not a dealer so I don’t subscribe to any auction price reporting services and I also don’t collect Toshi Yoshida abstract works so I’m not familiar with their pricing. This is just my opion from having a look around today for you – it’s always good to learn a little bit more
I didn’t see the Toshi Yoshida “Emrbyo” woodblock print listed as being sold anywhere previously – that’s not to say it hasn’t – I just didn’t see it. There are a couple of his abstract works on eBay at present with a start price of $9.99 so you may wish to follow those. On the liveauctioneer and artfact sites there are a number of abstract Yoshida prints that have been sold in the past (generally a few years+ ago) and they achieved prices from $150 to $325 – probably averaging in the low/mid $200′s and possibly in better condition than yours given the folding you reported.
Given the prices achieved it would seem that reframing the print in quality materials to sell may not worthwhile but that’d depend on your costs (here in Australia it’d cost $250+ to do a quality job!).
Who knows, maybe “Embryo” is a woodblock print where’s there’s collectors just waiting to snap up a copy. Price can be a “How long is a price of string” question. It just depends on who wants it and how much they’ll pay. I’d recommend that you talk with auction houses or galleries in your area to get a second opinion.
Regards, Mike.
I have a Yoshida Toshi print “Embryo,” and I believe I paid $500 for it around five years ago. It actually combines several elements of day 1-3 chick embryos and can be viewed as representing an embryo or a stringed musical instrument. The trope of embryos as embodied music has a long history.
I have two prints PLUM TREE AND BLUE MAGPIE and WISTARIA AT USHIJIMA both unframed, they have been in a cedar chest for over fourty years in excellent condition. I met Toshi Toshida in San Diego during his USA tour in 1975. He helped pick out these two prints at the Artist Coop Gallery in I was a member. I think I paid 35 or 50 for each one; so did I make a good deal?
I can’t provide valuations but here’s what I can see around on the internet. I would expect typical web gallery (eg. Floating World) prices for Toshia Yoshida’s PLUM TREE AND BLUE MAGPIE and WISTARIA AT USHIJIMA prints to be around $400-$450. I see a framed copy of WISTARIA AT USHIJIMA currently listed at Trocodero for $1050 but that’s very expensive in my view. These two prints are less common than some of his other works so finding auction pricing didn’t yield anything useful. My copies of these two prints were both bought on eBay for $207 (2008) and $209 (2009) respectively. These are two of my favourite Yoshida prints and possibly for other owners to given the low number that appear to have been available in the market for resale/aucton.
I just bought 4 Toshi Yoshida prints at an estate sale for $3 each, because I thought they were pretty. After doing some research on line I checked the signature, they were done in pencil. They don”t seem to be framed well. I was wondering if they are worth enough to have them reframed? They are in beautiful condition.
The prints are Aspen, Hummingbird and Fushia, Cardinals and Cherryblossums.
Hi Cindy,
In good condition the prints would probably be worth $200-$250+ each on somewhere like eBay. Often original matting is not archival and that can lead to damage. If your planning on keeping them then either de-frame/de-mat them and store them in an archival folder or get them re-matted/framed with archival qulaity materials. If the frames are adequate and you wanted to display them then you could just get the matting/backing done to save money.
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. For $3 each you can’t go wrong
Regards,
Mike.
Hello Mike, My sister has the Pine Tree of the Friendly Garden by: Toshi Yoshida We have tried to figure out if it is lifetime or posthumous. If I were to send you a picture could you help us? She is thinking about selling it.
Thank you, Edie
My understanding is that the Friendly Garden series for Franklin Mint is a lifetime only edition – there should be a date on the label on the back of the frame. I’ve only ever seen it say (c) 1980.
Hello,
I am new in woodblock prints hobbies.
I have some doubts about Yoshida Toshi and Kawase Hasui works.
I understand that a block signed print, it is a piece get from the original woodblock but that didnt do from himself, did no?
So the value of these prints is very different of the lifetime prints?
In the case of Yoshida Toshi block signed prints, where we can know the numbers of editions and prints of each piece?
The Toshi block signed prints were make for Yoshida Studio but in the case of Hanui…?
Thanks
Hi Antonio,
I understand that a block signed print, it is a piece get from the original woodblock but that didnt do from himself, did no? For Toshi Yoshida, Yes, it usually indicates a posthumous print, but not always as some block signed prints also have a raised seal and they were printed while he was still alive but unable to hand sign the prints. I don’t know about Hasui.
So the value of these prints is very different of the lifetime prints? Usually yes, but not always as sometimes you can get a lifetime print cheaper than a posthumous one.
In the case of Yoshida Toshi block signed prints, where we can know the numbers of editions and prints of each piece? Block signed prints are unlimited, they keep printing while there is demand and the blocks are still usable.
The Toshi block signed prints were make for Yoshida Studio but in the case of Hanui…? The website hanga.com have a good section about Kawase Hasui including his publishers.
Regards, Mike.
I have especial interest in these prints
Is it possible to find any of these pencil signed prints?
How much would be a reasonable price?
· Shinjuku
· Silver Pavilion-Kyoto
· Pagoda in Kyoto 1942
· Castle at Himeji
· Bamboo Garden,Hakone Museum
Hi Tatiana,
If you use the ‘Search 60+ Woodblock Sites’ function on my sites home page that’ll search all the sites I normally check for woodblock prints. You can also use Google directly but will get more ‘junk’ matches.
The best collection of Toshi Yoshida prints for sale is at floatingworld.com. Their prices are high but the quality is also very high and they might give you a discount if you’re buying multiple prints. Typically they sell oban size prints at $450 and chuban at $400. They have some lifetime Toshi Yoshida raised seal edition prints – usually $275.
As far as I’m aware Castle of Himeji (set) is only available at Ren Brown. Bamboo Garden is the other print that might be hard to find.
Genrarlly I prefer to pay less than $300 for Yoshida single prints. If you’re patient some good prices ($160/200) do pop-up from time to time. I just bought a pencil signed print in excellent condition for the same price as a posthumous one on eBay.
Regards, Mike.
Shinjuku is for sales at garydonald.com for a reasonable $250 – I’ve bought from them before and found them excellent to deal with.
I have a Toshi Yoshida Original Color Woodblock, Signed, Unnumbered Edition “Village of Plums” print. What do you think it is worth.
A wrinkled and toned copy of that print sold on eBay last month (July) for $139.99USD. Better condition copies are availalable on a couple of websites for $195 and $450. The $450 copy is at Floating World and comes directly from the Yoshida family collection so is in excellent condition.
hi I have 2 prints by Hokusai one is waterwheel at onden and has a faint red stamp on bottom left the other is yoshida on the takaido road
How can I tell how old they are and if they are woodblock prints or reproductions..thanks
I don’t collect his work so can’t tell what ‘edition’ his prints are either. It’s much easier with shin-hanga work which is what I collect. Try looking your prints up on http://www.jaodb.com/ or in Google.
A very interesting and helpful website. Came accross it as I was researching a dustly old framed print I just purchased at a thrift store for $6. I know nothing about this (or any other) type of art except that I like it. Mine is “Sumida at Night,” From the Ryogoku Bridge, appears to be hand signed but through the dust, I just not sure. Again, great website!
Glad you like the site. There’s lots of woodblock prints that feature the Sumida river and/or the Ryogoku Bridge so a Google image search may tell you the artist etc.
I think I typed that wrong – mine is From the Ryogoku Bridge by Toshi Yoshida.
I have all of the friendly garden series. They are matted with silk, I’m curious if you know if the matting itself should be replaced. Thanks
Hi Samuel,
I’ not sure if the matboards are acid free are not. The only damage I’ve see with the couple of Friendly Garden sets I’ve owned is that the prints are affixed to the boards with tape which has stained/burned the top margin of the prints – In one case very cose to the image. The presence of the silk mats can be important for collectors so personally I’d leave them alone if there is no mat burn already present. I’ve not seen mat burn on my prints. I have replaced the backboards on mine as inspecting the prints condition usually means the backboards suffer a little damange in the process.
Regards, Mike.
I have 2 of Toshi Yoshida’s prints. I read your article and believe to my eye they are signed! I have Sangetsu-an At Hakone Museum and Shrine of the Papermaker, Fukui. Are you interested in buying these two?
Thanks in advance
Diana
Hi Diana,
I’ve sent you an email about the two Toshi Yoshida woodblock prints.
Regards, Mike.
Hello,
I had a question regrading 2 paintings my grandmother left after she passed. I know they are Yoshida’s and they are signed in pencil. One is Matsumoto and the other is Kikuzoka Street…I was wondering if these are common or rare compared to the others and how much I should ask for them?? I haven’t been able to find a lifetime print for sale to compare it to.
Thanks,
Em
Hi Emily,
These prints aren’t common but they do come up for sale. I can’t give you a valuation as such or tell you how much to ask for them but here’s some info that will hopefully help.
Pricing at the top end for pencil signed prints in very good condition from a web gallery would be $400. Floating World have both your prints at that price so if you wish to compare condition go to http://www.floatingworld.com/scripts/catalog.asp and select Yoshida, Toshi from the Artist drop down list.
Auction pricing by its nature is usually all over the place. Copies of Kikuzaka Street sold at auction for $75 in July 2011 (framed, looks in good condition), $160 in August 2011 (framed, not as nice as the $75 copy). Matsumoto sold at auction for $200 in July 2012 (framed, fair condition).
If you are thinking of having them auctioned with an auction house the’ll have research tools to help work out an estimate.
Regards, Mike.
When I bought the print “Tenryu River” it was my first Toshi Yoshida only seen before on internet. As soon as I opened the pack I fall in love with this shore in a way I didn’t expect. T.Y. was a rare person who knew how to share the beauty he saw beyond reality. A contemplative print as many others by this grand artist.
The print “Linnoji Garden” is on my priority list, I have its brother print “Stone lanterns garden”. With their chuban size ( I think it is chuban) they are easy to place around the house to create a quiet atmosphere. At least it works for me as I like gardening and emptying my mind!
Hi Alex,
Yes the print is chuban in size. I only acquired my copy of Linnoji Garden recently and although it does have a mat line the colours are very good and I got it at a fair price. The only thing that bothers me a little (even though it is quite common) is the absence of facial features on the figure in the background – it does freak me out a bit when a figure has no face. Regards, MIke.
Hello From Michigan,
I have this print, Half Moon Bridge.
It is penciled signed. Could you give me any additional info? Worth? Age?
Thank you!
Dupri
Hi Dupri,
The Half Moon Bridge print was initially produced in 1941 but potentially (although unlikely) could have been made as late as the early 1990′s depending on demand. I’m not aware there’s any way to tell what year or edition (first, second?) a particular pencil signed print of any of Toshi Yoshida works may belong to (limited editions excepted).
I’ve not seen a Raised Seal edition of this print i.e. a life time print but not pencil signed but there are posthumous prints typically stamped on the verso with the Yoshida printer Numabe Shinkichi’s name.
The value of a print is always difficult to answer, it really depends who or how many people want that print. In web galleries I’ve seen asking prices from around $400 up to the $500-$700 range. At auction prices vary widely (or should that be wildly) but a typical selling range would be $150-$250 with the highest I’ve seen at auction being $750 (i.e higher than ‘retail’!) in 2005. Auctions generally only work for the seller in there’s at least two buyers, if not, then the buyer often does better from the auction than the seller.
For those interested in learning more about Toshi Yoshida probably the best book available is Yoshida Toshi: Nature, Art, and Peace
by Eugene M. Skibbe. I have a copy and its been very useful and is an easy read so I am happy to recommend it. That link is a affiliate one, so I may make a small commission from Amazon but it does not affect the price a buyer pays.
Regards, Mike.
i have the same exact picture with 2 others from the same artist original would like to sell any body has any idea?
We received “sangetsu-an hakone muesum” for christmas from our son and family who brought it with them from Tokyo. We knew it was special but until going on the computer to learn more we knew absolutely nothing about the artist or how the pieces are painted, produced, signed or just plain photo and printed. I noticed that the signiture on the piece is not quite the same as the signiture on the same piece in this site. Therefore I am wondering if this piece that we received is one that the artist actually signed? Does the artist actually paint each piece? Thankyou.
Glad to hear you like your woodblock print. You can find all about Toshi Yoshida signatures in these articles:-
http://japaneseartsgallery.com/2010/08/toshi-yoshida-signature-comparison/
http://japaneseartsgallery.com/2011/01/toshi-yoshida-posthumous-print-signature/
If you wish to see an overview of the entire woodblock printmaking process view the following video. The video features David Bull and he has other videos in his Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/seseragistudio?feature=watch which have more in-depth detail of woodblock printing.
I have the print “Autumn in Hakone Museum” that I purchased from a gallery in 1976. It’s in pristine condition and pencil-signed. Do you know how much it is worth? Thx
Hi Kay,
I’m not an appraiser so can’t give you a valuation. I did however see that a copy of your print which was somewhat creased sold on eBay two days ago for $216.60USD. Generally I see Toshi Yoshida woodblock prints of this size (Oban) typically be around $250-350. You will see higher priced Toshi Yoshida prints on eBay but they often don’t sell. At a web gallery it’d probably have a ‘retail’ selling price around $450.
Regards, Mike.
I have an original, pencil signed Hummingbird and Fuchsia which was purchased in 1984. The woodblock print is matted and framed, and it is in perfect condition. It was purchased from Kanda’s Gallery B.O.Q. in Japan. Could you tell me the valve of this woodblock print today?
Hi Joyce,
If you read the bottom post at http://japaneseartsgallery.com/2010/08/toshi-yoshida-signature-comparison/ you’ll see my reply to this same question from anpother visitor recently.
Regards, Mike.