Shiko Munakata Furniture
Japanese, 1903-1975
Shiko Munakata is by many regarded as one of the most significant modern Japanese artists of the twentieth century. His art work consists of paintings, prints, ceramics and calligraphy. Looking at his art work, the way he produced it and his fame, one could be tempted to call him the Japanese Picasso of the twentieth century - in every aspect.
Born in Aomori Shiko Munakata was born as the son of a blacksmith in Aomori Prefecture, located in the North of Japan's main island. He first began to paint in oil as a self-taught artist. Later in 1924 he went to Tokyo to study art.
Three years after the artist's death, the city of Aomori opened the Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art. The museum web site has one page with a summary of the career of the artist in English.
At the age of 23 Munakata Shiko saw a woodblock print by Sumio Kawakami and decided to try woodblocks himself. Under the guidance of Unichi Hiratuka he learned the art of making moku-hanga - woodblock prints. Three years later he exhibited four woodblocks at the Shunyokai exhibition.
From then on Munakata Shiko was a hanga artist - a print artist. He continued to exhibit and by and by his reputation grew.
After World War II had ended, the artist became famous outside Japan. His works were shown at the Lugano Print Exhibition in 1952, the Sao Paulo Biennal in 1955, the Venice Biennal in 1956. In each of these exhibitions he was awarded with first prizes. After these successful exhibition, Munakata went to the U.S., where he lectured at different universities and had numerous solo exhibitions.
Munakata Shiko preferred to call his prints banga, which could be translated like picture made from a wooden panel.
Munakata was a practicing Buddhist. Many of his prints and paintings show religious subjects. Other subjects are taken from Japanese legends or from nature.
Munakata's prints are larger than the traditional Japanese oban (10x15 inches = 25.4x38 cm) size. With his larger-sized prints he followed Western contemporary artist's and the buying habits of Western clients. Japanese homes are usually small and have little wall space to hang art work and therefore Japanese art buyers tend to buy smaller sizes.
A Munakata print is usually in black and white. The techniques he used are woodblocks, woodcuts and lithographs. Like Pablo Picasso, Shiko Munakata worked spontaneously, fast and was extremely prolific.
Shiko Munakata died in Tokyo in 1975 at the age of 72.to
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Creator: Shiko Munakata
Shiko Munakata "Three Buddhas" Woodblock 1957, Japan
By Shiko Munakata
Located in Oakland, CA
Amazing woodblock by one of the masters, Shiko Munakata, circa 1957. This one titled, "Three Buddhas". Just professionally framed with a beautiful bleached oak frame. Hand signed in ...
Category
1950s Japanese Modern Vintage Shiko Munakata Furniture
Materials
Paper
Shiko Shikou Munakata Signed Japanese Woodblock Buddha Bodhisattva Print
By Shiko Munakata
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful Mingei woodblock print featuring the Buddha or Bodhisattva by famed Japanese master Showa era printmaker/ artist Shiko Munakata (棟方志功 ) who is regarded by many as one of ...
Category
20th Century Japanese Showa Shiko Munakata Furniture
Materials
Paper
Shiko Munakata SignedJapanese Woodblock Print of Three Buddhas Shaka No Saku
By Shiko Munakata
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful Mingei woodblock print titled "Shaka No Saku (Sakyamuni)" is by famed Japanese master Showa era printmaker/ artist Shiko (Shikou) Munakata (棟方志功 ) who was widely consider...
Category
1950s Japanese Showa Vintage Shiko Munakata Furniture
Materials
Paper
Shiko Munakata Sealed Japanese Woodblock Print of Female Deity Goddess Joshin
By Shiko Munakata
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful Mingei woodblock print titled "Joshin" (Goddess) by famed Japanese master Showa era printmaker/ artist Shiko (Shikou) Munakata (棟方志功 )who was widely considered to have be...
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1930s Japanese Showa Vintage Shiko Munakata Furniture
Materials
Paper
Shiko Shikou Munakata Rare Signed Japanese Pottery Chawan Tea Bowl Signed Box
By Shiko Munakata
Located in Studio City, CA
An exceptionally rare, wonderfully designed Chawan tea bowl by famed Japanese master woodblock printmaker/ artist Shiko Munakata (1903-1975) who is widely considered to be the most important Japanese visual artist of the 20th century and the Pablo Picasso of Japan. This hand-painted work clearly illustrates Munakata's whimsical side as it is of a Koma - a child's spinning top toy. Very few examples of Munakata's work in ceramics exist still today.
The work is signed by Munakata on the base as well as the original wood protective storage box (his seal can also be seen faintly in the lower-left corner).
The bowl has a small kintsugi or "golden joinery" repair - the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold - on the inside. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.
Munakata who is often compared to Picasso was primarily associated with and a principal figure in both the Sosaku-Hanga (which stressed the artist as the sole creator ) and the Mingei (folk art) movements. His many accolades and awards include the "Prize of Excellence" at the Second International Print Exhibition in Lugano, Switzerland in 1952, and first prize at the São Paulo Bienal Exhibition in Brazil in 1955, followed by the Grand Prix Award at the Venice Biennale in 1956, and the Order of Cultural Merit, the highest honor in the arts by the Japanese government in 1970. In 1960 after returning from a year abroad exhibiting his work in the United States, the Horinji Temple in Kyoto bestowed upon him the honorary rank of “Hokkyo”. In 1962, he received the rank of “Hogan” from Nisseki Temple in Toyama prefecture. He also received a Medal of Honor in 1963 and the Asahi Shimbun culture prize in 1965.
Munakata's work can be found in numerous international collections and museums including:
The Britsih Museum, UK
The Chicago Art Institute
Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), NY
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), NY
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), Washington DC
Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis
And his own museum The Munakata Shiko...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Shiko Munakata Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Shiko 'Shikou' Munakata Signed Japanese Mingei Woodblock Print Hirosaki Castle
By Shiko Munakata
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful Mingei woodblock print titled "Hirosaki Castle (sometimes just "Castle")" by famed Japanese master Showa era printmaker/ artist Shiko Munakata (棟方志功 ) who was widely considered to have been the Pablo Picasso of Japan. Munakata was associated with the Sosaku-hanga movement and the mingei (folk art) movement. His awards and recognitions include the "Prize of Excellence" at the Second International Print Exhibition in Lugano, Switzerland in 1952, the first prize at the São Paulo Bienal Exhibition in Brazil in 1955, and the Grand Prix at the Venice Biennale in 1956. In 1959 he spent a year touring and exhibiting in the United States. Upon his return, the Horinji Temple in Kyoto bestowed him with the honorary rank of “Hokkyo”. In 1962, he received the rank of “Hogan” from Nisseki Temple in Toyama prefecture. other awards include the Medal of Honor in 1963 and the Asahi Shimbun Culture Prize in 1965. In 1970, Munakata received the Order of Culture, the highest honor in the arts by the Japanese government.
Munakata's work can be found in numerous international collections and museums including:
The Britsih Museum, UK
The Chicago Art Institute
Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), NY
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), NY
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), Washington DC
Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis
The Munakata Shiko...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Shiko Munakata Furniture
Materials
Paper
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Shiko Munakata furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Shiko Munakata furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Shiko Munakata furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Shiko Munakata were created in the modern style in japan during the 20th century. Prices for Shiko Munakata furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,495 and can go as high as $9,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,150.