M
Mandarin Ducks
鴛鴦
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- c. 1915
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
Typical Price
Mandarin ducks symbolize marital fidelity in Japanese culture, adding cultural resonance to this elegant pairing. Early Watanabe editions bring $1,000-$3,500, while later impressions and posthumous prints range from $400-$1,200. The symbolic significance makes this subject especially popular as a gift or decorative piece.
Description
A pair of mandarin ducks, traditional symbols of marital fidelity in East Asian culture, swim side by side on calm water. The male''s spectacularly colorful plumage — with its orange sail-feathers, green head, and purple breast — is rendered in rich, saturated colors, while the female''s more understated browns and grays are equally carefully observed.
