Two printed full color fish shaped windsocks

Japan, 1947-1950. Not bound; retaining portions of the color-printed original paper envelopes as issued.. Overall in near fine, unused, condition; old - original - folds.. I - Appx. 10 feet x 24 inches; II - Appx. 6 feet x 20 inches. Deep, vibrant color with highlights; printed on thin but very tough Japanese paper.

Two strikingly printed fish (carp?) shaped windsocks originally used in Japan where they were meant to be flown on May 5 in celebration of Children's Day. The color is deep, uniform, and with excellent contrast; occasional appliques (e.g., silvered paper or foil disk to represent the iris of the eye) to enhance the impact and gold (truncated) color flecks in the paper. A dramatic rendering of a similar windsock is to be seen in Hiroshige's illustration "Suido Bridge and Surugadai" - #48 from his notable series "100 Famous Views of Edo". There the windsock encompasses the entire print - appearing as an oversize "flying fish" - with the Kanda River and city present behind it. These two survivals are the result of an acquisition by a member of the post WWII American occupation force. (Inventory #: 24058)