Japanese Craftsmanship

Euphemia Franklin

Far East – China & Japan

Euphemia joined Maggs part-time in 2021 while completing her master’s degree in History of Design at the V&A and Royal College of Art. Soon after graduating, she joined the firm full-time.

Euphemia works closely with Dr. Titus Boeder in the Far East department, and has compiled a number of themed catalogues, including Mingei (folk crafts) and the Tokaido. She has also contributed to The Book Collector and wrote the introduction to a book on the Avant Garde artist Toshio Saeki, published by Baron in 2023.

As a trained graphic designer, Euphemia brings her expertise to the firm through a variety of in-house projects. She introduced the first ever Maggs-branded pencil and was the creative director for the firm’s new website and rebrand.

She is fluent in Japanese.

[email protected]

Mingei artists, paper-making and woodblock-printed books

We are delighted to present a lovely mix of items, most of which are new acquisitions. Spanning from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, and across a wide range of themes, the books are connected by the common thread of craftsmanship.

While the Mingei artists' books show wonderful individual expression, earlier woodblock books highlight what had been achieved by teams of master block cutters and printers.

Japanese Craftsmanship

Catalogue

Kyoto minka fu [Record of Kyoto's Minka Houses], 1934.

Hinoe tora goshi ginka kana tsuguru ban katazome… 1986.

Shonen shojo [Boys and Girls], 1952.

Kappa aijo-ki [Kappa love story], 1948.

Tesuki Washi [Handmade paper], 1975.

Toki seou [Bearing the weight of time], 1987.

Toki to ningyo to [Time and dolls], 1986.

Tosa Washi, 1990.

Jagatarabumi [Letters from Jakarta], 1941.

Ai ori to ishizara [Indigo dye and Stoneware… 1984.

Ima wa mukashi [Once upon a time], 1967.

Koshi no kagami [Examples of ancient papers], 1977.

Hirado genso [Hirado fantasy], 1977.

Heisei no shifu • Current Handmade Papers of… 1992.

Koshi hyakutai [Varieties of old papers], 1949.

Yuenchi haikyo [Amusement Park Ruins], 1956.

Hakurai kaju yoran [Handbook of Foreign Fruits], 1884.

Nihon no kami: higashi nihon • nishi nihon [Japanese… 1958.

Okinawa no minyo [Folk Songs in Okinawa], 1961.

Kaika kocho [Ancient Signs of Enlightenment], 1874.

Tabako Toraiki [On the Arrival of Tobacco], 1943.

Enroku [Tobacco Record], 1809.

Ranpu to onna [Lamps and Women], 1965.

Hida yuki [Travels in Hida], 1951.

Momikarakami [Kneaded papers], 1971.

Tohoku kama meguri [Touring the Tohoku Kilns], 1944.

Kawakami Sumio Sakuhin-shu [Collection of works by Kawakami… 1975.

Jindai goshu kaiko hanachigai no den [Ancient Traditions… 1875.

Washi no Bi [The Beauty of Japanese Paper], 1943.

Kosetsu shiki [The Story of the Blind Man… 1975.

Izumo Mingei Shifu [Izumo folk craft papers], 1956.

Kojiki emaki [Picture Scroll of the Kojiki], 1949.

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