August 11 is Mountain Day in Japan. It is a very new holiday, first officially observed in 2016, but mountains have held extremely important roles in Japanese art and culture for much longer. Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain, is one of the country’s most celebrated sights. Associated with deities in ancient times, it is a World Heritage Site today and draws crowds of tourists and climbers. Historically, it has been a favorite subject for poems and is a familiar sight in fine and decorative arts.
The eight-panel screen shown here, which sold for $248 at Tremont Auctions, depicts a landscape in ink on gold paper, dominated by Mount Fuji’s iconic snow-capped peak. A group of figures walks along the foreground among hills, trees, and water. This is a procession of daimyo, regional feudal lords, making their way to Edo, the capital of Japan, renamed Tokyo in 1868. During the Edo period, from about 1600 to 1868, daimyo were required to travel to Edo every other year. These processions were a popular subject in art, and long, paneled screens were an especially effective medium for depicting them.
These screens were still made after the Edo period; the screen shown dates to about 1900. Mount Fuji often appears in the background of these scenes, as it does here. In addition to the beauty and symbolism of the mountain itself, it offers a sense of scale, making the figures look small in comparison and indicating how long their journey was.
* * *
Q: I have a “Cox-Roosevelt Club” campaign button and would like to know its value. Could you please advise? It has photographs of both candidates’ faces in blue and the words are in red.
A: If your button is authentic and in good condition, you have something extremely valuable. Political button collectors describe buttons from the 1920 Presidential campaign for James M. Cox and his running mate, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in terms like “holy grail,” “unicorn,” or “crown jewel.” They are extremely rare. Relatively few were made, and even fewer have survived in perfect condition. We recommend contacting a specialist in political memorabilia, like Hake’s Auctions (hakes.com), whose founder, Ted Hake, is a leading expert on political buttons and has written many books on the subject. In 2024, a 1-inch diameter Cox-Roosevelt Club button like yours sold at Hake’s Auctions for more than $30,000! Details like size, manufacturer, and even positioning of the image are important. Turn your button around and check the curl (the part that meets the metal backing) for a manufacturer’s name. The button that sold at Hake’s was made by and marked for M.F. Shafer & Co. There were other manufacturers, too. Looking at the curl is also one of the easiest ways to spot a reproduction button; they are often marked with dates later than the campaign they picture, the name of the country where they were made, or even the word “Reproduction” or “Repro.”
* * *
TIP: Some types of fumes can damage paper. Don’t store your collection near the kitchen, garage, barbecue pit, or freshly painted areas.
* * *
Kovels answers readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures: the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, (Name of this newspaper), King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
* * *
CURRENT PRICES
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Textile, panel, lace, pictorial, Classical style scene, dancers, Pan playing flute, scrolled borders, frame, 13 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches, $65.
Fiesta, mixing bowl set, nesting, orange, yellow, green, flared lip, horizontal ridges, largest, 6 1/2 x 10 inches, three pieces, $75.
Furniture, etagere, Victorian, brass, two tiers, two side shelves, onyx, mirror back panel, diamond shape, four flame shape finials, pierced leafy scrolling trim, splayed legs, 39 inches, $130.
Glass-Bohemian, vase, opaque white, gilt, enamel flower clusters, scrolled trim, flared rim and base, 20 inches, pair, $195.
Disneyana, toy, sparkler, Mickey Mouse, black and white, Chein, 1930s, 5 1/2 inches, $215.
Furniture, chair set, dining, Statesville Chair Co., mid-century modern, vinyl upholstery, floating back rest, open arms, label, 31 1/2 inches, eight pieces, $260.
Store, sign, Old Fashion Ice Cream, light blue and black lettering, scrolling trim, cream ground, painted, wood, two-sided, frame, 24 x 51 inches, $300.
Glass-Venetian, lamp base, electric, emerald green, bottle shape, bulbous base, tapering neck, tonal spiral stripe, patinated metal mounts, Murano, Italy, c. 1950, 19 inches, pair, $520.
A few months ago, I shared some books that our three book clubs had recently read and discussed. I also talked …
For art glass collectors, a peachblow vase can be as much of a treat as a perfectly ripe peach at the peak of its …
Are you tired of waiting in the hold line for “Great Big Beautiful Life,” the newest Emily Henry book? Or maybe …
When you are looking for summer fun, your first stop should be the library! We have a variety of activities, …
The invention of the electric light bulb didn’t just introduce an improved, more convenient, safer light source. …
AloJapan.com