Late 18th Century byobu screen featuring a bold design of a bamboo grove beside a brushwood fence rendered in the moriage relief technique. 168cm x 254cm (66inches x 100 inches). Unknown Kano school painter.
This striking composition was created for the interior of a castle or daimyo mansion in a tradition stretching back to the sixteenth century when screens like this were ordered by leading warlords. It was painted using luxurious materials, with rich application of the crushed mineral pigment rokusho (malachite) on a support of gold leaf on paper. Unfolded at night in a large formal space, a screen like this would have reflected the light of many candles or lanterns, casting a golden glow over the room and its occupants.
Condition is commensurate with it's age, with scattered old repairs throughout, wear and some abrasions to the surface (particularly to the brushwood fence, which is raised and has rubbed against it's neighbouring leaf when closed) and small areas of paint loss. Degradation/loss of some material to the silk brocade border. This brocade damage has now been consolidated/stabilized. There is no damage to the backing papers.
Overall displays extremely well. It's 2.5 metres of gold and green that sings, as it was designed to do, when lit.
Please see further images here, we can't get everything on the listing, there's a lot to show. We also have a video, taken in natural light, please email and we can forward it on.
UK mainland shipping is £75, by dedicated courier. Please contact for international shipping or hard to reach parts of the UK.
18th Century Japanese Four Panel Screen Bamboo Grove
We are happy to accept returned items if they arrive damaged or are not as described. No other reason will guarantee a refund. Please study images carefully, they count as part of the description. We are happy to supply additional information and images on request
All our items are listed with a UK Mainland delivery fee that is automatically added to your basket when checking out. This fee is applicable to the majority of England and Scotland.
All of Wales, England west of Bristol and Scotland north of Edinburgh are likely to incur a surcharge for shipping, as will Northern Ireland and any other UK island. If these locations apply to you, or you are from outside the UK, please contact us for a shipping quote prior to placing an order.
Anything with a shipping fee under £50 will be sent through a standard parcel courier so you can just place an order wherever you are on the UK mainland with no need to check for surcharges.
Anything with a shipping price of £50 or over will be sent with one of our selected and trusted couriers. To keep costs down, we use multi drop couriers who may only be in your area on a specific day. It is a one man, doorstep delivery. If you need help with getting larger items into your premises, or need an item shipping on a specific day or to a deadline, let us know. We can arrange a white glove service to meet your requirements.