{"product_id":"first-tea-gathering-of-the-new-year-ryuryukyo-shinsai","title":"First Tea Gathering of the New Year - Ryūryūkyo Shinsai","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined surimono woodblock print by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, featuring symbolic objects for a New Year tea ceremony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis surimono print by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai depicts a collection of objects associated with a New Year tea gathering. Surimono were privately commissioned woodblock prints, often distributed among members of poetry circles to celebrate special occasions. Unlike commercial prints, these works utilised high-quality paper and expensive pigments, such as metallic powders and embossing, to achieve a refined finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition features a tea set arranged alongside a small pine bonsai and a lobster, both of which are traditional symbols of longevity and good fortune in Japanese culture. The tea bowl in the foreground is decorated with crane motifs, further reinforcing the theme of long life. The artist employs a clean, balanced arrangement that allows each object to occupy its own space, reflecting the aesthetic of the tea ceremony itself. The inclusion of calligraphic text at the top of the print indicates that this work was created for a group of poets who contributed verses to mark the season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShinsai was a student of Katsushika Hokusai, and his work often displays a similar attention to detail and precision. The print demonstrates the technical capabilities of the Edo-period woodblock medium, with subtle colour gradations and fine line work. The palette remains restrained, relying on soft blues, earthy browns, and muted greens to create a sense of harmony. The absence of a complex background ensures the focus remains on the symbolic objects, which are rendered with a high degree of clarity. This print provides a glimpse into the social and cultural practices of the period, where art, literature, and ritual were integrated into daily life. The careful placement of the tea utensils and the symbolic offerings suggests a moment of quiet preparation before the arrival of guests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/mountains-and-rivers-along-the-kisokaido-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eMountains and Rivers Along the Kisokaidō - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/jo-and-uba-of-takasago-looking-at-the-rising-sun-totoya-hokkei\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eJo and Uba of Takasago Looking at the Rising Sun - Totoya Hokkei — Totoya Hokkei\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Ryūryūkyo Shinsai","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58726203490639,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58726239109455,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58726239142223,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58726239174991,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58726239207759,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58726239240527,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58726239273295,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58726239306063,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58726239338831,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58726239371599,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58726239404367,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58726239437135,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/First-Tea-Gathering-of-the-New-Year_Poster_CompositorV1_1788964908298.jpg?v=1788965090","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/sv\/products\/first-tea-gathering-of-the-new-year-ryuryukyo-shinsai","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}