Escalade

1718 · 220781 — Japan.: 大海扇子商會. Taikai Sensu Shōkai. Meiji 17 1884. Black and white printed map with handcoloured pink highlights 23.5 x 39cm date stamped on reverse. A little minor wear at folds but overall very good. This fascinating fan was produced as a commemorative item marking a climb to the summit of Mount Fuji. A stamp on the reverse is dated 27 July Year 17 and appears to have been applied at the summit. This date likely refers to Meiji 17 or 1884. Commemorative fans of this type were popular at the time and the paper printing and general style appear consistent with that period. The red printed patterns and characters on the reverse also back up our belief that the fan was obtained at the summit. The pictorial map of the mountain shows four different routes to the summit marked in red with distance charts printed above. <br> <br>Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest peak. Long perceived as a sacred mountain it has a Shinto shrine at the summit and the climb has traditionally been regarded as a form of pilgrimage. . 大海扇子商會. [Taikai Sensu Shōkai]. unknown