Sendai Domain Lord, Principal Wife, Date Masako, Collection Seal, Hyakunin Isshu "Emperor Tenji" Karuta Picture, Framed in Acrylic Glass

This is a single ukiyo-e card from a Hyakunin Isshu karuta (card game) set from the Edo period. It features an elegant portrait of a noblewoman and beautiful coloring, showcasing the craftsmanship of the era. A notable feature is the seal indicating its ownership by Date Masako (Nobuko), the principal wife of Date Muramasa, the 8th lord of the Sendai domain. This makes it a historically significant item connected to Date Masako. The card is encased in acrylic glass, allowing you to view both the front illustration and the seal on the back.

The back of the karuta card bears a seal with the characters 誠子 (Masako) and another in seal script, confirming its provenance within the Date clan. This is recorded as Date clan provenance.
Date clan = Date clan (伊達氏・伊達家)
provenance = Origin, history, former ownership, ownership history (a term often used for art and antiques)
This indicates that the item is of Date clan provenance, has a seal from a female owner, and is related to the Sendai Date family. In Western markets, such items are categorized as:
1. Samurai / Daimyo provenance (former possession of a feudal lord's family)
2. Women's history (owned by a lord's principal wife)
3. Japanese court poetry art
Consequently, a Hyakunin Isshu karuta with the ownership seal of a Sendai domain lord's wife is considered not just an antique karuta, but a valuable piece of Date family women's history and recreational cultural property. In the United States, karuta with Date clan provenance are valued at $1,000-$2,000 USD (approximately ¥150,000-¥300,000). For reference, a karuta card (number 100, featuring a waka by Shunzei) with the Sendai domain's crest is valued at $50,000 USD (approximately ¥750,000) and is not for sale, being intended for international exhibitions.

[Size]
Karuta card actual size (6.1cm x 8.7cm) Loader (acrylic glass actual size) (7.3cm x 11.1cm)
Base size (1.2cm x 10.2cm, groove depth 5mm)
[Shipping]
Ships via Yu-Pack.
[Source of Provenance]
The historical materials for the provenance are based on the Date Jikekiroku (official history of the Sendai domain) and other records.