Preliminary identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
An extraordinary set of eight Japanese hanging scrolls (kakemono) depicting scenes from the 11th-century literary masterpiece, 'The Tale of Genji'. Painted in the classical Yamato-e style associated with the Tosa School, these panels feature rich mineral pigments, fine ink line-work, and dramatic clouds of gold leaf.
Story
Written in the early 1000s by noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu, this story is widely considered the world's first novel. These scrolls allowed wealthy Edo-period viewers to travel through time, showcasing the romantic intrigues and courtly rituals of the imperial golden age.
Maker / Origin
The Tosa School of painters served as the official artists of the Imperial Court for centuries. They specialized in Yamato-e (traditional Japanese-style painting), characterized by flat, vibrant color fields, precise ink outlines, and stylized 'blown-off roof' (fukinuki yatai) architectural perspectives.
Condition & Value
The paintings show typical signs of aging, including minor creasing, pigment flaking, and vertical wear lines consistent with being rolled and unrolled over centuries. However, the gold leaf remains remarkably bright and the narrative details are highly legible.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.