Posted by James Adams on May 28, 2001 at 04:50:55:
I bought a print without knowing anything about it because I liked it. I am very new and unfamiliar with the details of collecting and properly identifing ukiyoe prints. So I have spent every spare moment reading books, various internet sites and actually looking at prints in antique shops. I have identified this print as hiroshige's tritych, kisoji no yamakawa, the mountain river on the kiso road. I have checked the paper(fiberous), ink(like paint), size, chain lines, and everything else I know. Everything points to this as being the real thing. The only problem I have is that it is in perfect condition and it is a famous piece. I really wont be hurt if it is not the real thing because I only bought it because I liked it. How do I know for sure what it is? Is this too good to be true.
It was mounted very professionally in a nice matted frame. From what I had read I thought matting could be very dangerous to a print so I decided to take it out(carefully). The mat was glued to the backing but without affecting the print. The print is held down by what looks like a thin almost transparent paper around the edges. I carefully lifted up one corner so I could look through the print to see if the "paint" showed through. And it did very vividly(from what I could tell). I didn't want to risk damaging the print so I stopped there. If this is a genuine print and not some modern copy what should I do?
thanks,
James