Green Abalone
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 Green Nature Abalone Turquoise Cluster Toggle Bracelet  US $35.59
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Shunga, literally "Images of Spring", is the generic term used to describe erotic prints, books, scrolls and paintings of Japan.
Prudery
Only recently (1990s) the study of shunga images depicting homosexual (male-male sex) and lesbian (female-female sex) acts of love have been commenced. This belated research of this "hidden domain" was caused by the official censorship in Japan and also because of the unease and prudery concerning the specific subject-matter in the past.
Male-male
Homosexuality, in Japanese called nansoku meaning 'male love', was not an uncommon phenomenon during the Edo (today's Tokyo) period in Japan. In the early years of the Tokugawa regime (early 17th century) men greatly outnumbered women in Edo. There were very strict rules imposed by the government inspired by the loyal standards of Confucianism which excluded women to participate in any kind of work with the exception of household tasks. These regulations and the shortage of women can be seen as deciding factors for the huge amount of homosexual activities. The most characteristic feature of the depictions in shunga of male-male sex is the relation between the two involved "lovers". The leading and dominant male with his shaven head is always the older one, this on the basis of seniority or higher social status, while the subjected passive partner was a pre-pubescent or pubescent boy or a young man depicted with a unshaven forelock. These young boys are often shown in female cloths and therefore easily mistaken for girls. They served as pages to high ranking samurai's, monks, wealthy merchants or older servants and were most desired during their adolesence especially between the age of 15 and 17 years when the anus was still without hair. There are also several shunga designs on the theme of threesome sex depicting one man (always a young male) in the midst of sexual intercourse with a female partner while being taken from behind by an intruder. In most shunga images representing man/youth anal intercourse, the genitalia of the young man are often concealed focusing the attention of the viewer on the garment and elegant lines of the body.
Female Secrets
While there was a Japanese term for male-male (nanshoku) and male-female sex, joshoku or nyoshoku meaning 'female love', there was no such word to describe female-female sex or lesbianism. Most of the shunga's I have come accross as a dealer in the past 15 years regarding explicitly female concentrated designs (approx. 20 !) depicted either isolated women masturbating using her fingers or a harigata (artificial phallus/dildo) or two intimate women using this same sexual device. Hokusai (1760-1849), the most famous Ukiyo-e master designed two lesbian ehon (book) prints including one with two awabi (abalone) divers using a sea cucumber. Up to now the only shunga featuring this subject that has been described in literature is Eiri's famous design from his oban sized series 'Models of Calligraphy' (Fumi no kiyogaki) published in 1801. In their book 'Shunga, the Art of Love in Japan' (1975) Tom and Mary Evans make an interesting comparison with Eiri's (they attribute it to Eisho) shunga design and the paintings of the influential post-impressionist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec:
"Whereas Toulouse-Lautrec concentrated on the emotional bond between the girls, and the sad emptiness of the way of life which thrust them into each other's arms, Eisho (Eiri) was concerned with the physical details of their relationship. And while even such an open-minded artist as Lautrec felt that such details were more than could be reasonably presented to his public, for the Japanese they were the central feature of the design". (Evans - 'Shunga, the Art of Love in Japan')
It must be emphasized that these images of lesbianism in shunga were the result of male fantasies, designed by men and intended for a male audience.
Profound View
Notwithstanding the embarassment the Japanese at first felt for the representation of these suppressed themes within the shunga genre it's exactly these particular images that provide a profound view into the cultural and historical background of their country during the Edo period.
Recommended Literature
'Shunga, the Art of Love in Japan' (1975) - Tom and Mary Evans
'Sex and the Floating World' (1999) - Timon Screech
'Japanese Erotic Prints' (2002) - Inge Klompmakers
'Japanese Erotic Fantasies' (2005) - C. Uhlenbeck and M. Winkel
Important Shunga Artists
Hishikawa Moronobu (? -1694)
Suzuki Harunobu (c.1725-1770)
Isoda Koryusai (1735-90)
Chokyosai Eiri (act. c.1789-1801)
Kitagawa Utamaro (1753 -1806)
Torii Kiyonaga (1752-1815)
Katsukawa Shuncho (act. c.1780s-early 1800s)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)
Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787-1833)
Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)
Kikugawa Eizan (1787-1867)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Kawanabe Kyosai (1831-89)
We have a website called AK-Antiek and offer a large and varied collection of antique, jewelry and art. We are specialized in classic and modern jewelry, Japanese woodblock prints, shunga, erotica, netsuke, inro, cameo, antique coins, modern art and antique watches. The website address is: AK Antiek Gallery
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Haliotis asinina Tropical Abalone Snail $29.99 The Tropical Abalone ( Haliotis asinina ) has a flattened, narrow, ear-shaped shell. They are also known as the Donkey's Ear Abalone among shell collectors due to this shape. The shell is usually brown or dark green and is usually covered by a frilly mantle. Abalones grow in an open, flattened shape with their body and large foot exposed on the underside. The top has about 5 to 7 openings along its whorl. These snails are herbivorous and cling tightly to rock or glass where they feed. They are prized commercially for their meat and their shells. In the aquarium, they are reef-safe grazers but their large size may cause some damage as they move about. |
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Haliotis fulgens Green Abalone (ORA) $29.99 Abalones grow in an open, flattened shape with their body and large foot exposed on the underside. The top has about 5 to 7 openings along its whorl. These snails are herbivorous and cling tightly to rock or glass where they feed. They are prized commercially for their meat and their shells. In the aquarium, they are reef-safe grazers but their large size may cause some damage as they move about. This is a cooler water species than many other tropical abalones and will do well in a cooler aquarium. ORA livestock is propogated and cultured by Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums, the largest marine ornamental fish hatchery in the world. They continuously develop new coral frags and breed new animals for the aquarium trade and many are available in very limited quantities. We are proud to offer ORA's items as part of our livestock collection. |
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Carlo Viani(r) White Abalone Pendant $309.99 Carlo Viani(r) White Abalone Pendant crafted in 14k White Gold Plated Silver Dimensions: Width: 10.00 mm Length: 23.00 mm20 Stones 0.42 Carats Black Sapphire Color: Black, 1 Stone 99.99 Carats Abalone Color: White Clarity: Clean, 4 Stones 0.67 Carats Peridot Color: Medium to Dark Yellow-Green Clarity: Eye Clean Free 18 inches gold chain included |
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Silvermoon Sterling Silver Abalone and Green Pearl Peace Earrings (4 mm) $37.4 These stylish earrings feature a peace sign charm accented with round abalone beads and green freshwater pearls. Crafted of sterling silver, these earrings shine with a highly polished finish and hang from hook findings. Style: Dangle Pearl type: FreshwaterGrade: BColor: Green Pearl size: 4 mmShape: ButtonCultured pearlsNumber: TwoGemstone colors: Green, purple, pink Gemstone shapes: Round Two round-cut abalone coins each measure 8 mm Metal: Sterling silver Finish: High polish Clasp: Hook Earring dimensions: 15 mm wide x 54 mm long All carat weights and measurements are approximate and may vary slightly from the listed dimensions. Treatment code E (abalone), and D (freshwater pearl). See Gemstone Treatments for further information. |
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Abalone $81.25 Abalone (from Spanish Abuln)are small to very largesized edible sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis. Family Haliotidae has no subfamilies. Common names for abalones also include earshells, seaears and Venussears, as well as muttonfish or muttonshells in Australia, ormer in Jersey and Guernsey, perlemoen in South Africa and pua in New Zealand.There is only the one genus in the family Haliotidae, and about four to seven subgenera. The number of species recognized worldwide is about 100.The shells of abalones have a low and open spiral structure, and are characterized by several open respiratory pores in a row near the shells outer edge. The thick inner layer of the shell is composed of nacre or motherofpearl, which in many species is highly iridescent, giving rise to a range of strong and changeable colors, which make the shells attractive to humans as decorative objects, and as a source of colorful motherofpearl. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 100 Publication Date: 2009/11/30 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.23 inches |
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Pearlz Ocean Abalone Shell Square Dangle Earrings $35.32 These square earrings feature colorful hues of abalone shells. These stylish earrings shine with a highly polished finish and hang from hook findings.Style: DangleColor: Peacock greenStone: Abalone shellMetal: Silvertone copper Finish: High polish Clasp: HookMetal weight: 0.71 gramsEarring dimensions: 20 mm wide x 50 mm longAll carat weights and measurements are approximate and may vary slightly from the listed dimensions. Treatment code N (abalone). See Gemstone Treatments for further information. |
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Pearlz Ocean Abalone Shell Cutout Dangle Earrings $35.32 Featuring colorful hues of abalone shell round cutout earrings in silver tone copper. These earrings shine with a highly polished finish.Shape options: Round, heart, diamondStyle: DanglePearl type: Abalone shellGrade: AColor: Peacock GreenPearl size: 35 mmShape: Round cutoutAbalone ShellNumber: TwoMetal: Silver tone Copper Finish: High polish Clasp: Shepherd's hooksMetal weight: 0.71 gramsEarring dimensions: 35 mm wide x 50 mm longAll carat weights and measurements are approximate and may vary slightly from the listed dimensions. Treatment code N (Abalone). See Gemstone Treatments for further information. |
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Pearlz Ocean Abalone Shell Dangle Earrings $35.32 Featuring colorful hues of abalone shell oval dangle in silver tone copper. These earrings shine with a highly polished finish.Shape options: Round, diamond, oval, marquiseStyle: DanglePearl type: Abalone shellGrade: AColor: Peacock greenPearl size: 20 mm wide x 30 mm longShape: OvalAbalone ShellNumber: TwoMetal: Silvertone copper Finish: High polish Clasp: HookMetal weight: 0.71 gramsEarring dimensions: 20 mm wide x 50 mm longAll carat weights and measurements are approximate and may vary slightly from the listed dimensions. Treatment code N (Abalone). See Gemstone Treatments for further information. |
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Souvenir Abalone $39.99 Souvenir Abalone - Giclee Print |
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Abalone Shell $14.99 Abalone Shell - Premium Poster |
