This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/12/2023
SHIRASE, Nobu (1861-1946). Autograph fan with poem, signed (“Nobu Shirase”), during Taisho era, 1 August 1912.
Calligraphy with a paintbrush on a rice paper folding fan (sight 165 x 457 mm), handsomely framed and matted (overall 330 x 546 mm). Nobu Shirase’s signature is on the leftmost panel, with the date immediately to the right.
The item is dated 1 August 1912, or about a month after the JAE’s return to Japan from Antarctica. The poem is possibly based on an old Chinese story originating about 2000 years ago. Figuratively speaking it states that in the far north and south with big ocean (i.e. the Antarctic and Arctic Oceans), there are big birds (probably the albatross) and big fishes (probably whales). The first part means in the Southern Ocean, a large bird shows off its large wings. The second sentence means in the northern ocean, (we) display an olive branch (the Chinese equivalent to an olive branch is equivalent to a symbol of peace). In ancient times the symbols for both the Southern Ocean and Northern Ocean were used to express the same deep ocean, though they used both south and north. The poem expresses the feelings that we shall show our strength and express our love and peace. The poem roughly means “The big wind of south dark peak sweeps the dust of North Sea”. South dark peak most likely refers to Vinson Massif visible from the area explored by the JAE. Vinson Massif is a large mountain massif in Antarctica that is 21 km long and 13 km wide and lies within the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains. It overlooks the Ronne Ice Shelf near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. The massif is located about 1,200 kilometers from the South Pole. A RARE AND UNIQUE SHIRASE ITEM, previously unknown and unrecorded. Ross 5.2A (“Very rare”).