$100.00 CAD
| /
Set of 3 advertising sheets from Japanese silk manufactures with attractive and colorful images, using symbolism. Date ~1890--1930.
DRAGON-FLY CHOP HARA & co. YOKOHAMA Made in Japan
Zenzaburo Hara, founder of Hara & Co., established his raw silk export business in 1862 shortly after the Port of Yokohama opened to foreign trade.
Dragonfly symbolizes courage, agility, and victory—often associated with samurai.
5 ⅛ x 3 ⅞”
TURTLE MADE IN JAPAN
In Japanese culture, the turtle (亀, kame) symbolizes longevity, wisdom, and good fortune. The long tail suggests an especially auspicious type called minogame said to live for a thousand years. The red circular backdrop evokes a traditional seal (hanko or inkan), reinforcing its authentic, ceremonial tone.
5 x 3 ½”
Made in Japan RAW SILK Matsuo Kumaiseishi
MATSUO KUMAISEISHI: Likely the name of the manufacturer: “Matsuo Kumai Spinning Company”
“Seal of divine dedication” or “Sacred seal.” This evokes a ceremonial or honorable tone, often seen on artisanal goods or traditional crafts.
“This day is grand” or “An auspicious day.” Common in traditional branding to invoke good fortune or celebration
“Silk-made, assembled by Omatsu” (尾松 is likely a brand name or artisan). Indicates handcrafted or refined production
4 ⅞ x 3 ⅜”
Some light indentations.
...However, in 1845, an epidemic of flacherie among European silkworms devastated the silk industry there. This led to a demand for silk from China and Japan, where as late as the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Japanese exports competed directly with Chinese exports in the international market in low value-added, labor-intensive products such as raw silk.
Between 1850 and 1930, raw silk ranked as the leading export for both countries, accounting for 20%–40% of Japan’s total exports and 20%–30% of China’s. Between the 1890s and the 1930s, Japanese silk exports quadrupled, making Japan the largest silk exporter in the world.
WIKIPEDIA
