Fake seals on Hasui's Zojoji Temple in Shiba 芝増上寺
Four examples of forged Watanabe publisher seals with photos of before and after seals were applied. In the past 20 years, approximately 1 in 20 Zojoji prints at market had forged seals.
Forged seals may be identified firstly by inspecting an impression to ascertain its approximate age based on paper type, printing materials and technique, and woodblocks wear and repair. When an impression has an earlier seal than expected then, to verify it was a forged seal, identify an earlier sale of the very same impression before seals had been applied.
Example 1: forged Watanabe "A" seal
Original sale: October 20, 2024 from Fine Estate Inc. in San Francisco for $3,500
Auction with forged "A" seal: November 16, 2024 for $8,000. The winning bidder, an American, was suspicious and did not complete the transaction.
Consignment by US dealer to Japanese dealer, again with forged "A" seal: November 18, 2024 for ¥1,920,000 ($12,365)
The publisher's "A" seal ceased use in 1930. This impression was made with pigments not seen on verified pre-war examples and made with colour woodblocks carved post-war. The baren swirls (baren suji-zuri) throughout this impression matched perfectly before and after as did stray blots of pigment (tamari).
Example 2: forged Watanabe "C" seal
Original sale: September 23, 2021 from Eldred's in Boston for $5,500
Resale with forged "C" seal: late 2021 for $18,950
The publisher's "C" seal ceased use in 1942. This impression was made with pigments not seen on verified pre-war examples and made with colour woodblocks carved post-war. The baren swirls (baren suji-zuri) throughout this impression matched perfectly before and after.
Example 3: forged Watanabe "C" seal
Original sale: May 26, 2021 from Witherell's in Sacramento for $3,750
Resale removing round seal and forging "C" seal: sold late 2021 for unknown price
The publisher's "C" seal ceased use in 1942. This impression was made with pigments not seen on verified pre-war examples and made with colour woodblocks carved post-war. The baren swirls (baren suji-zuri) throughout this impression matched perfectly before and after. The handwritten titles by Watanabe Tadasu remained visible afterward.
Example 4: probably forged Watanabe "B" seal
Original sale: May 2, 2020 from Florida Estate Sales in Tallahassee for $2,450
Resale with forged "B" seal: September 29, 2021 from Christie's for $9,375
The publisher's "B" seal ceased use in 1932. This impression was made with pigments not seen on verified pre-war examples and made with colour woodblocks carved post-war. The baren swirls (baren suji-zuri) throughout this impression matched perfectly before and after as did a printer's crease and corner marks left by its previous mount.
Unfortunately no original photo was available showing the right margin to verify beyond doubt that seal was forged.
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