antique japanese hand painted watercolor set - 12 shikishi art boards in wooden box

Love Japanese Style Like We Do

Discover a captivating collection of 12 antique Japanese hand-painted watercolor artworks, each delicately rendered on traditional shikishi art boards. Designed for monthly rotation, these exquisite pieces celebrate the beauty and rhythm of the seasons - making them a timeless treasure for art lovers, collectors, or anyone looking to bring a touch of old-world Japan into their home.

Each painting features beautiful minimalistic scenes, with a pleasing space tension, showcasing charming karako children at play, elegant women in kimono, hardworking farmers, and proud samurai - each set against seasonal backdrops that reflect traditional Japanese life and cultural events throughout the year.  Each artwork is signed and stamped with the artist's red seal, adding to the collection's authenticity and charm.

The paintings are housed in an elegant wooden storage box adorned with a graceful pine tree motif along the base. The lid bears the inscription "Fueki ga Junikagetsu" (“Unchanging Beauty Through the Twelve Months”), along with the artist’s signature, which appears again inside the lid. A convenient hole in the base allows easy access to the boards. For added protection, each shikishi board has been carefully placed in a custom cellophane sleeve, ensuring their safety for years to come.

Whether you choose to rotate them monthly in a featured space or display them all together for a stunning focal wall, this beautiful set offers a versatile and meaningful way to enjoy Japanese artistry year-round. As shikishi are a standard size, they can be easily fitted into your existing frames.

Condition:
The set is in good condition considering its age. Two pieces show minor insect damage (please refer to photos), but both remain beautiful and display-worthy.

Originally displayed in the tokonoma (alcove) of a traditional Japanese home on a hanging scroll, these vintage shikishi boards have developed a slight natural bowing over time. We recommend framing them both for preservation and to allow them to lie flat, enhancing their visual impact.

While the box shows some discoloration from age, it remains structurally sound. 

 - shikishi measures 242 mm (9.52”) x 272 mm (10.7”). 
- box measures 28 cm (11”) x 31 cm (12.2”) x 4 cm (1.6”).
- weighs 990 gm.

(listing for 12 shikishi boards in box)

SHIPPING INFORMATION
- please read our shipping notes in shipping policy.
- we use recycle packaging and wrap for safety, rather than appearance.

ABOUT OUR VINTAGE, ANTIQUE AND OTHER ITEMS
We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.

Information regarding the item and it’s age is obtained from dealers and our personal research. We do our best to give you the correct information but please be aware that we cannot guarantee this information.

Please message us prior to purchase with any questions you may have about our products.

SHIKISHI BOARDS
Shikishi boards are made from fine handmade washi paper laminated to a hard board backing. They are edged with a strip of gold paper and are used for sumi-e paintings, haiku poems, calligraphy and watercolor paintings. There are also silk screen and printed shikishi too. The regular size measures 242 mm (9.52”) x 272 mm (10.7”). Lately a mini size, measuring 120 mm (4.73”) x 135 mm (5.32”) has also become popular. 

Traditional shikishi art is based around the seasons and seasonal events. Paintings of flowers, animals, fish, vegetables, lucky images, events, such as Hina Matsuri. boys day, bean throwing day and New Year can be found. Japanese people rotate around the paintings to reflect the season, making a display to keep themselves in touch with the beauty of nature and yearly festivities, from within their own home.

Japanese shikishi were traditionally attached to a hanging scroll and displayed in the tokonoma of a formal Japanese tatami mat room. Recently people do not have a tokonoma so some lovely frames for shikishi have become available. They still give you the option to change around your art according to the seasons and also give you the freedom to make a display in any room you like.

KARAKO
Karako is a Japanese term used in art with the depiction of small children playing. These children are called ‘karako,’ which literally translates to ‘Chinese children.’   ‘Kara,’  is actually the character for the Tang dynasty (618-907) in China, a time considered the golden age of Chinese culture and power. The children tend to be depicted with a particular hairstyle, knotted at the top and shaved on both sides of the head. The little children design symbolizes health and longevity for sons and daughters. 

The number of children on the design also has significance.  You will probably see three, five or seven children, as odd numbers are considered lucky. The more children in the design, the greater the luck!