GUEST: I brought this print, uh, done by Munakata Shikō. He's from Japan, but at the time, he was in New York, and then visited my husband's home, because he had an open home. My husband was the professor at the University of New York, in, in the Asian studies department. And he felt very grateful that my husband invited him. So he did this as a demonstration for everybody who participated in the party.
APPRAISER: Wonderful. So that was actually done in your husband's home? Is that correct?
GUEST: Yes, indeed.
APPRAISER: Did he carve the block there?
GUEST: Yes.
APPRAISER: As a demonstration.
GUEST: Yes, and he, um, Mr. Munakata wanted to show everybody how it's done, how he did the work.
APPRAISER: Well, that was fabulous. That must have been very exciting, because, as you know, he worked in a very rough and, and, uh, aggressive manner. And often used the ends of boxes, very rough wood, like orange crates, and then he would use chisels.
GUEST: That's right.
APPRAISER: And as you know, he would just work frantically.
GUEST: Yeah.
APPRAISER: And I notice here that not only is it signed by Munakata, but it's also dated, 1959 and July 27. Very, very strong impression. It does, as you notice, have a little bit of foxing. It has gotten a little bit of foxing marks here.
GUEST: Yes.
APPRAISER: Which can be restored. And I think it would be a piece that would be, uh, uh, more valuable and would be worth getting restored.
GUEST: I see.
APPRAISER: Um, do you have any idea of what this might be valued at?
GUEST: Oh, I have no idea. But it's just a, Munakata Shikō is so famous in Japan that I was delighted to find it.
APPRAISER: Well, I don't, I don't blame you for being excited, it's a, it's a wonderful piece. I would say in a retail market that a, a piece like this
would be in the range of $6,000 to $7,000.
GUEST: Wow, it's hard to believe!
APPRAISER: No, Munakata is very famous, as you say, and very, very collectible artist.
GUEST: Yeah.
APPRAISER: And, uh, it's a wonderful piece and a great story.
GUEST: Oh!
APPRAISER: We really appreciate you sharing that with us today.
GUEST: Oh, you're welcome.
