Comment - "January: The Shuttlecock" is a charming image of beauties playing games at New Year's. The beauty at left holds up a decorated hanetsuki battledore for a traditional holiday game similar to badminton. She hurries away, being chased by a playful young woman who runs after her with a brush, trying to daub her with ink. At right, a small girl and her mother giggle with amusement as they watch the pair, a shuttlecock is lying on the ground before them. In the central background, a yakko-dako or man kite ("yakko dako", "奴凧") is tangled in the branches of a bare plum tree, a reminder of the popularity of flying kites for the New Year. A delightful scene with soft shading and attractive color in the elegant kimono, including touches of silver mica.


Series - Twelve Months of Beauties ("Bijin jū ni-kagetsu",  "美人 十二ヶ月")  (red beige cassette, upper right panel, next ro titel cassette)


Artist - see Biography


Signature - "Miagawa SHUNTEI" ("宮川 春汀") right panel lower right with red artist's seal


Publisher -  Matsuki Heikichi (松木 平吉) (seal, lower left panel)


Image Size -   35.6cm X 70.5cm    (13 3/4" x 27 3/4") plus margins


Condition -  triptych; three single panels, backed with paper; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Vertical ôban (ôban tate-e);