Carved and painted wooden medicin advertising sign
Price: € 650,00
A striking, large Japanese carved and painted wooden advertising sign 看板 (kanban) for the patent medicine Jintan 仁丹, produced by Morishita Hiro Pharmaceutical House 森下博藥房 (Morishita Hiro Yakubô), and apparently intended for the Korean market.
The tall rectangular sign has gently lobed corners and a narrow gilt inner border. The inscriptions and central trademark are carved in relief and painted in white, black, red, green and gold against the naturally patinated wooden ground.
At the centre is the distinctive Jintan trademark depicting a moustachioed man in formal ceremonial dress with a plumed bicorne hat. The figure represents a diplomat, symbolising the idea of Jintan as a medicine reaching beyond Japan. Below are the name ‘JINTAN’ and Jintan 仁丹, accompanied by the Korean rendering 인단 (indan), indicating that the sign was likely made for use in Korea.
The inscriptions include ‘Formula of Doctors Miwa and Inoue’ 三輪井上両博士の方劑, and ‘A complete pocket medicine’ 完全ナル懷中藥. At the bottom, the large characters advertise its use for ‘digestion’ 消化 (shôka) and ‘detoxification’ 毒けし (dokukeshi).
Jintan was introduced in 1905 as a portable general-purpose medicine. The manufacturer’s name Original manufacturer Morishita Hiro Pharmaceutical House 本舗森下博藥房 (honpo Morishita Hiro Yakubô) was used from 1905 until the company changed its name in 1922, allowing this sign to be dated within this period.
Period: Japan – 1905-1922 (Meiji to Taishô period).
Dimensions:
Height: 120.8 cm, Width: 60.6 cm, Depth: 4.1 cm.
Considering its age, the kanban is in very good condition with expected traces of age and use. The painted decoration shows some wear and minor losses, and the wooden ground has developed an attractive natural patina. Please refer to the photographs for a clear impression of the condition.
When shipped, a certificate of authenticity will be included.
