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 The Tokaido, Books from Mishima’s Library and Papermaking and Printing in the World of Mingei. 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, more recently, 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

Kami suki mura Kurodani [The Paper-making Villagers from… 1970.

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

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

Futarizure [Couples], 1947.

Tesuki no kami [Handmade paper], 1984.

The Unknown Craftsman, 1972.

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

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

Mashiko higaeri [Day Trip to Mashiko], 1943.

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

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

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

Shin watari sarasa hinagata [Illustrated Book of Sarasa… 1785.

Momikarakami [Kneaded papers], 1971.

Saiho dokugaku wafuku no bu [Self-taught Sewing: Japanese… 1880.

Hida yuki [Travels in Hida], 1951.

Ranpu to onna [Lamps and Women], 1965.

Enroku [Tobacco Record], 1809.

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

Wazome washi [Japanese Dye; Japanese Paper], 1948.

Kaika kocho [Ancient Signs of Enlightenment], 1874.

Yokohama miyage: Tokaido meisho no uchi Yokohama fukei… 1860.

Uzen Takamatsu azabu-gami densho [Traditional papermaking in Uzen… 1960.

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

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

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

Tokaido: Hiroshige-ga 53 tsugi genjo shashin taisho -… 1918.

Yuenchi haikyo [Amusement Park Ruins], 1956.

Koshi hyakutai [Varieties of old papers], 1949.

Okinawa fubutsu [Okinawan Scenery], 1948.

Heisei no shifu • Current Handmade Papers of… 1992.

Hirado genso [Hirado fantasy], 1977.

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

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

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

Jagatarabumi [Letters from Jakarta], 1941.

Katazome torumpu-e: Te [Stencil-dyed playing cards: Hands], 1986.

Katazome torumpu-e: Su [Stencil-dyed playing cards: Numbers], 1986.

Katazome torumpu-e: hako [Stencil-dyed playing cards: Boxes], 1986.

Tosa Washi, 1990.

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

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

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