Japanese woodblock triptych titled 'Mitsukini Defying the Skeleton Spectre Conjured up by Princess Takiyashi', estimate €13,000-18,000 at Van Ham on November 18.
Among them is this woodblock triptych, each sheet of which measures approximately 14 x 10in (37 x 25cm), titled Mitsukini Defying the Skeleton Spectre Conjured up by Princess Takiyashi, created in 1845-46 by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, one of the great masters of the genre.
It is an illustration of a scene from Story on the Loyalty of Uto Yasukata, published in 1806, which is based on a 10th century legend, involving palace intrigues, betrayal and evil spirits, in particular a giant skeleton, defied and defeated by the trusted retainer Oya Taro Mitsukuni.
The estimate is €13,000-18,000.
