Japanese Sono Koto. Hipkins musical instruments antique print c1888.

by Hipkins, Alfred James

Antique print of beautifully ornamented Japanese Sono Koto with 13 strings drawn through wax. This instrument was only used in the Imperial household or in a Shinto Temple. 

Original colour-printed lithograph by William Gibb for the first edition of “Musical Instruments - Historic, Rare and Unique” by Alfred James Hipkins (1826-1903), published in Edinburgh, circa 1888 by Adam and Charles Black. Gibb's lithographs for the first edition of Hipkins's work are considered to be the finest illustrations of musical instruments ever done.

This lithograph is from a decommissioned 'ex-library' book. Half-framed, mounted between antique white ragmat conservation boards, the library stamp does not obtrude. Page size: 405 x 295 mm (approximately 16 x 11.5 inches). Lithograph size: 320 x 210 mm (approx. 11.5 x 8.25 inches).