Kozuke Sano fune-bashi no kozu / Shokoku Meikyo Kiran

Medium:: Woodblock print
Format:: Oban
Source:: British Museum

Typical Price

Later reprint (Meiji–Taisho era publishers): $100–$600
Good later impression (Edo-period, worn block lines): $5,000–$20,000
Good early impression (sharp lines, strong color): $15,000–$60,000
Fine early impression (exceptional clarity and condition): $60,000–$150,000

From Hokusai's Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (c.1834), an 11-print series showcasing engineering feats from across Japan. The Kintai Bridge and Suspension Bridge designs command the highest prices.

Description

The boat bridge (fune-bashi) of Sano in Kozuke Province — a floating bridge made of moored boats lashed together — appears in this print from the Shokoku Meikyo Kiran (Famous Bridges) series. Boat bridges were engineering solutions for rivers too wide or flood-prone for fixed timber spans, and their temporary, assembled character gave them a visual dynamism that differed from conventional bridge subjects.