Antique Japanese Kanban Painted Sake Merchant Shop Sign – 26 ½" LS#071

Antique Japanese Kanban Painted Merchant Shop Sign – 26 ½"

Antique Japanese painted merchant shop sign (kanban) of shield form with rope detail, painted on a gold-tone wooden ground. This decorative sign is adorned with flowers, butterflies, and trademark characters, embodying the artistry and commercial culture of traditional Japan. Such signs were designed to captivate passersby and establish a shop’s identity, combining utility with aesthetics. The sign shows paint loss and wear consistent with age, along with areas of restoration and repainting.

• Provenance: From the collection of Leonard Sorese, an avid collector of Japanese and other Asian antiques

• Date: 19th–early 20th century

• Dimensions: 26 ½" H × 24" W × 5 ½" D

• Condition: Flaked paint losses and wear to decoration; some restoration and repainting