Folding screen with cranes - Paper

A classic tall six-panel byôbu 屏風 (folding screen) with cranes and turtles, pine and peonies. An impressive six-panel byōbu depicting red-crowned cranes (tanchōzuru) and turtles in a richly composed landscape, painted on gold-flecked paper ground. On the left, a crane stands among rocks and flowering white and pink peonies beside a winding stream, with two turtles resting on a nearby rock. At the centre, a pair of cranes raises their heads towards one another in a courtship display. The composition is anchored on the right by a monumental, gnarled pine tree with dense green foliage, accompanied by bamboo and rocks, while distant hills dissolve into the shimmering gold ground. Cranes, turtles and pine form an especially auspicious combination in Japanese art. Traditionally associated with longevity, cranes and turtles symbolise long life and good fortune, while the evergreen pine represents endurance and longevity. Peonies, celebrated for their magnificent blossoms, add associations of wealth, honour and spring. Such auspicious subjects were particularly favoured by the Kanō school for large-scale decorative screens and ceremonial interiors. The screen bears the signature 狩野伯壽筆 (Kanō Hakuju hitsu) at the lower right, accompanied by a red seal. Hakuju was a name associated with Kanō Einō (狩野永納, 1631–1697), third-generation head of the Kyō-Kanō school and son of Kanō Sansetsu. The painting follows the decorative Kanō tradition of the later Edo period and may be by Einō, a follower of his school, or most likely a later artist working under his name. Period: Japan – 19th century (Late Edo period). Dimensions: Total width: 374 cm; Height: 170 cm. Considering its age, the screen is in very good restored condition with expected signs of age and use. Please refer to the photographs for a clear condition reference. The folding screen is well suited for mounting flat on a wall as a decorative work of art, but can also be displayed as a standalone piece. When shipped, we will include a certificate of authenticity.

Estimate:£2,287.5

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