Key-block (part missing) for a colour-print of a fan-design. "Shiki Bijin Sugatazoroye." Beauties representative of the Four Seasons. Spring. A woman of the Yoshiwara with her attendant (Kamuro). One of a set of four. (9×8¼). E. 4940-1903. The back is engraved to print gold and a colour. Key-block (part missing) for a colour-print of a fan-design. Shiki Bijin Sugatazoroye. Summer. A geisha enjoying the evening breeze. (8¾×8). E. 4938-1903 The back is engraved to print one of the colours.
UTAMARO II. _(worked_ c. 1800-1840). Wood-blocks (7) used in the production of a colour-print. (15×10½). E. 4316-4322-1909. UNSIGNED (19th century).
Key-block for a colour-print. Farmer turning an irrigation water-wheel, in rice fields. (8¾×9¾). E. 4935-1903 The back is engraved to print one of the colours. Key-block (on each side) for two colour-prints. Chrysanthemums and butterfly; on the back, peonies in a flower-vase (9¾×10¾). E. 4933-1903.
NOTE.--_Proofs were taken (in 1910), by a Japanese printer, from each of the above, except in cases where such were already in the Collection. They can be seen on application in the Students' Room of the Department._
Japanese paper, of the kinds used for artistic purposes, is made from the inner bark of various plants, chiefly the _Broussonetia Papyrifera, Edgeworthia Papyrifera_ and _Wickstroemia Canescens._ The young shoots of the plant are cut in the withy stage; the fibre freed from the wood, and the skin and green parts of the bark, and edges of knot-holes and other defective parts are cut out. The selected residuum is then laid in running water for several days, and boiled in an iron kettle with lye, till it is quite soft and pulpy. The pulp is next washed with fresh water until the water runs off without discolouration. The process of dealing with this pulp does not greatly differ in principle from the European method; except that the scoop-net is not of wire, but of fine parallel bamboo splints or silk net toughened with Shibu (a preparation containing a large proportion of tannic acid). There is no watermark in Japanese paper; but patterns are sometimes produced by arrangements of bamboo splints woven, in net fashion, with silk or hemp thread _(Mon-shi--_patterned paper). The Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design possesses a collection of specimens of various Japanese papers.
