Oh, I find these the most beautiful things and am loathe to let them go. They are a set of traditional handmade Japanese deer hair printing brushes, sometimes referred to as "peony" brushes from what I understand, after the shape of the flower in bloom. This set, I was told by the (very wonderful dealer) I purchased them, came from a longtime woodblock printing studio in Japan that was closing (which seems the only means of acquiring them)--and clearly they were used for many years, with the colored wraps around the lower halves of the brushes distinguishing one from another and designating the color of ink they were used to apply. So very Japanese in the clarity and elegance of their construction, wood, wire, paper, hair. Nothing more than needed, form born of function, gorgeous and special feeling things.
Largest 5" t x 2 1/2" diameter. Pink wrap 4 1/4" t x 1 3/4" d. Green wrap 4 1/8" t x 1 5/8" d. Blue 3 5/8" x 1 1/4" d. Beautiful used condition. The handle of the smallest, wrapped in blue tape rather than paper, shows one break, as shown, which does not seem to affect its structural soundness--i.e. still stable and sturdy, and appears to me it it continued to be used long after that break happened.
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