Byôbu 屏風 (folding screen) with festive scenes - Lacquered wood

An intriguing tall six-panel folding screen 屏風 (byôbu) depicting seasonal customs and scenes of daily life in Edo-period Japan. Six vignettes unfold among sweeping banks of silver-leaf clouds. A warrior doll 武者人形 (musha ningyô) is presented to a boy for Boys’ Day 端午の節句 (Tango no Sekku). In another scene, a fisherman practises cormorant fishing 鵜飼 (ukai), suspending a flaming basket over the water to attract fish. Figures enjoy cherry-blossom viewing 花見 (hanami), while two women play with wooden battledores 羽子板 (hagoita) in the New Year’s game 羽根突き (hanetsuki). Further scenes of domestic and festive life complete the composition. The silver leaf has oxidised to a soft grey, giving the clouds an atmospheric contrast with the colourful figures and landscapes. The painting is executed in natural pigments and ink on mulberry paper with silver leaf. It is surrounded by two gold-toned silk brocade borders, a slender inner band and a broader outer band, and set within a black-lacquered wooden frame with protective metal fittings. Period: Japan – Late Edo period (first half of the 19th century). Dimensions: Height 172.6 cm; total width 367.6 cm (2 x 62.6 cm and 4 x 60.6 cm). Considering its age, the screen is in very good restored condition, with signs of wear on both sides and some re-papering to the reverse. Please refer to the photographs for a clear impression of the condition. The folding screen is ideal for mounting flat on a wall and presenting as a continuous narrative artwork, but can of course also be displayed as a standalone piece. When shipped, a certificate of authenticity will be included.

Estimate:$2,231.96

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