Shamisen Collection

Geisha Playing Shamisen
A young geisha practises on her shamisen

Chinese musical instruments
A selection of Chinese musical instruments, including a bell(1), gong, (2), cymbals(4), a guqin or seven-stringed zither(7), a pipa or four-stringed lute (8), Yueqin or moon-shaped lute(11)

Japanese Geisha playing a Traditional Shamisen
Japanese Geisha in her home playing a Traditional Shamisen Date: circa 1904

Geisha / Instruments / C1900
Three geisha, in informal kimono: one practises on her shamisen whilst another reads

Japan - Musical Instrument Shop - Shamisens
Musical Instrument Shop, Japan. Note the selection of Shamisens in the window. Date: circa 1920s

c. 1880s Japan - two geishas, studio scene, shamisen and tea set
c.1880s Japan - two geishas, studio scene, shamisen and tea set

c. 1880s Japan - geishas, flowers and a shamisen
c.1880s Japan - geishas, flowers and a shamisen

1860s Japan - portrait of a street singer with a shamisen Felice or Felix Beato (1832 - 29 January 1909), Italian-British photographer working mostly in India, Japan, China

1860s Japan - portrait of a young woman musician with a shamisen Felice or Felix Beato (1832 - 29 January 1909), Italian-British photographer working mostly in India, Japan, China

c. 1880s Japan - geishas with musical instrments

Japanese ceremony, c. 1900
Japanese ceremony, c.1900 Vintage early 20th century photograph

c. 1880s Japan - musicians

c. 1880s Japan - geishas dancers musicians

c. 1880s Japan - musicians and dancers

c. 1880s Japan - geishas playing musical instruments
c.1880s Japan - geishas playing the shamisen and koto musical instruments

Wife of the elite samurai class relaxing
Wife of the elite samurai class reading books, with other women writing with a pen, one looking at ukiyo-e prints, and one folding paper. Another woman delivers reams of paper and ink

Geishas playing the shamisen and koto, Japan, circa 1880s. Date: circa 1880s

Two Lovers - Shamisen
Two Japanese lovers play the shamisen. The girl touches the cords, whilst her lover determines the sounds by the pressure of his fingers on the strings. Date: 18th century

Japanese stringed instruments: Siamisen, kokiu and biwa.. Chromolithograph from an illustration by William Gibb from A.J. Hipkins Musical Instruments, Historic, Rare and Unique

Japan - Female Japanese musical group and dancers. Date: circa 1905

Two pretty Japanese women on a riverboat - the seated woman appears to be playing a Shamisen. Date: circa 1900

The Geisha by Owen Hall
Promotional postcard of The Geisha by Owen Hall; music Sidney Jones produced by George Edwardes. First produced at Dalys Theatre, London 25th April 1896

Japan - Music Teacher playing a Shamisen (or Samisen). The alcove behind her is called the tokonoma and is the pride of the house Date: 1932

Blind Japanese musicans, 1864
Three blind Japanese musicians. One plays a koto, the other a samisen. Date: 1864

Musician with Shamisen, Japan
Musician with Shamisen (a three-stringed instrument), Japan. Date: circa 1890s

Street singer with shamisen, Japan
Street singer with shamisen (a three-stringed musical instrument), Japan. Date: circa 1890s

Street musicians, Japan
Two street musicians, Japan. Date: circa 1890s

Two geishas, stove and shamisen, Japan
Two geishas, stove and shamisen (a three-stringed musical instrument), Japan. Date: circa 1890s

Geisha with shamisen, Japan
Geisha with shamisen (a three-stringed musical instrument), Japan. Date: circa 1890s

A shamisen player, lighting her pipe
A Japanese lady in traditional costume lays her shamisen(a musical instrument with three strings, also written samsin), to one side, so she can light her kiseru or pipe, aided by another woman

Three girls playing shamisens, a Japanese musical instrument
An ascending scale: three Japanese girls of difference sizes wear traditional costume and play their shamisens(a musical instrument with three strings, also written samisen)

A lady playing a shamisen, a Japanese musical instrument
A Japanese lady in traditional costume plays a shamisen (also written samsin), a musical instrument with three strings

The shamisen, a Japanese musical instrument
The shamisen(also written samsin), a Japanese musical instrument with three strings

Japanese theatrical performer holding a Shamisen. Date: circa 1920s

Two European girls dressed as Geishas playing music (on a Shamisen-style instrument) during the tea ceremony. Date: circa 1910s

Japanese Geisha standing with her Traditional Shamisen Date: circa 1904

Japan - Three Geisha Girls playing traditional instruments - two on drums and one playing the Shamisen. Date: circa 1904

Japan - Japanese Dancing girl and Shamisen player. Date: circa 1904

Japanese woman holding a shamisen
Japanese woman in traditional costume holding a shamisen. Date: circa 1904

O-Hana-San provides music for her friend O-koto-san
Japanese woman O-Hana-San provides music for her friend O-koto-san with a Shamisen Date: circa 1910

Japan - Women dancing and playing musical instruments, including a Shamisen (right). Date: circa 1906

Japanese Geisha Ensemble with Musical Instruments (including bells and Shamisen), performing on a staging on the seafront. The tea ceremony appears to be occurring at the same time. Date: 1902

Geisha with a shamisen
Japanese geisha in kimono with a shamisen Date: circa 1906

Japanese woman, full length, seated, facing right, playing a koto; a shamisen leans against a wall in the background. Date ca. 1877

Exterior view of fish market with several people, shoppers and merchant(?), holding fish, also a porter with large bundle on his back, and a woman playing a shamisen. Date ca. 1877

A shamisen. Date 1878 Nov

A koto or Japanese zither. Date 1878 Nov

The Song Of The Dragon
Japanese lady holding a shamisen sat by a dragon mural. Please note: Credit must appear as (c) Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/Mary Evans Picture Library

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