18th-century large 6-panel Mori School folding screen
Price: € 6.300,00
An incredible, late 18th-century large six-panel byôbu 屏風 (folding screen) with a refined Mori School painting on gold leaf of a dense pine tree forest 松 (matsu) along the edges of a rocky winding river. In the middle of the river two small dams have been created by placing large stones in nets and fastening these with wooden poles. High in the sky three cranes 鶴 (tsuru) fly by overlooking the landscape.
The scene is surrounded by dense gold leaf clouds.
Cranes and pine trees are a popular symbolic pair in Japan. In Japanese symbolism, it is said that cranes live to be a thousand years old, and serve as powerful symbols of youth and longevity in both literature and art. Pine trees also represent longevity, as well as good fortune and steadfastness.
On the middle left side sealed twice by the artist Mori Yôshin 森陽信 (1736-1808). The seals read ‘Eishunsai’ 永春斎 and ‘Kushihashi Shôei’ 櫛橋正盈’. The seals are a little bit faded, but good visible from a lower angle.
Yoshin Mori was a painter of the Mori school who was active in Osaka in the late Edo period. He is the eldest son of Mori Kansai and the older brother of Mori Shûhô and Mori Sosen . His name is Yoshin (Shin), his common name is Tozo, and his pseudonym is Eishunsai.
He studied the Kano school under Eishunsai Kushihashi Shôei 櫛橋栄春斎正盈 and called himself Eishunsai Kushihashi. Not much is known about Shôei, but he was an artist friend of Sosen’s master Katsube Jyoshunsai 勝部 如春斎. It is said that he died at the age of 73, but there are also works with a 77-year-old signature.
The panels are surrounded by two silk borders, a thin white brocade one, and a wide greyish one with a polychrome flower design. The screen is protected black lacquer wooden frame with its original wooden hardware.
Dimensions:
Total width: 373 cm. (2 x 63.7 cm and 4 x 61.4 cm); Height: 175.8 cm.
Period: Japan – Second half 18th century (Edo period).
Considering its age, which is approx. 220-270 years old (!), it is in a good restored condition with wear conform age. Please take a close look at the detail photos of high quality restorations of some imperfections in the gold leaf and lower part of rocks. For a clear condition reference, please refer to the photos as well.
The folding screen is ideal for mounting flat on a wall and presenting as a single work of art.
When shipped we will add a certificate of authenticity.
Price including insured shipping.
