160301-0039 - Water Street, Yokohama

The famed fine art and curio business Kuhn & Komor on 37 Water Street (水町通り) in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. The photographer stood with his back towards the Grand Hotel (behind his right shoulder).

K&K was established by the Hungarian Jew Isidor Komor and his cousin Arthur Kuhn. The firm manufactured decorative objects which were frequently given as diplomatic gifts by the Japanese government.

The company was active between 1897 (Meiji 30) and 1919 (Taisho 8) and had branches in Kobe, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

It carried works of art in silver, bronze, Satsuma ware, Cloisonné, ivory, wood, lace, silk, and other materials. K&K employed Japanese silversmiths at a time when these artisans were highly regarded all over the world. Even today, the high quality K&K works are still routinely found at auctions.

This postcard was published sometime between March 1907 (Meiji 40) and March 1918 (Taisho 7).