Posted by The previous time I was at my neighborhood thrift store was not in the morning as per usual, but much later in the day and it was a zoo. Everything about it was unpleasant. Everything. Then and there I vowed I would never come at this time of day again.
So this past Monday morning I walked in at opening time and was relieved that it was normal. Normal in every way including not finding much! But after going around the store several times, I dug a bit more in the art section which is not easy because of the way they stack artwork in very shallow bins–you have to lean against the art as you flip through so they don’t fall out.
Anyway that morning I dug and tucked behind several much bigger pieces I found a piece that caught my eye. This was nice.
This Japanese woodblock print was professionally framed and matted and just sweet as can be and, bonus, not too big to ship. Without doing any research in the store I nabbed it. If nothing else, I would be happy to keep this piece.
Back home I learned a few things. The original woodblock print was designed by Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806) who did a series of famous beauties. This particular one is “Courtesan Hanaogi of Ōgiya.”
While mine is a 20th-century reproduction or re-strike, it is a woodblock print not dot matrix, beautifully framed and ready to display. Not an antique but a good thing. She’ll be living on my mantel for a while.
I love buying art and it has been selling better the last two months so I may try to focus on it more. Maybe!
Art For Sale
Here are a few of the pieces in my Etsy store…
Wishing you happy hunting,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 
You may want to research which restriking it is, that will help determine value. There may be small variations between strikes and helps date them. I have two Japanese woodblock prints, one a restrike that differs from the original in a few telling ways. They have a sad history. My father bought them from a neighbor for 50 cents each when a neighbor was selling all his belongs prior to being “relocated” to the Japanese interment camps in WWII. I wish I knew who they were, I’d return these to them, they’d brought them from Japan when they moved to the S.F. Bay Area.
Yours is beautiful! I always take a second look at art when someone has professionally framed it. Since framing isn’t cheap it might be something worthwhile.
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Lisa, thank you for the information about re-strikes. I’ll see if I can find more info. about my piece. And thank you for sharing that sad story about your dad’s neighbors. Such a dark decision in U.S. history.
I’m like you, if something has been professionally framed it might be good!
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