Large six-panel screen with cranes
Price: € 2.300,00
A serene and large six-panel byôbu 屏風 (room divider) with a refined painting of a sedge of cranes 鶴 (tsuru) amidst a field of pine tree saplings 松 (matsu) along a winding river. The scene is surrounded by clouds of golden specks.
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.
Dated, signed and sealed twice in the lower left corner by the artist Nameta Kaian 行田魁庵 (1812-1874).
Dated: ‘Painted in the beginning of summer during the 5th year, year of the earth monkey, of the Kôka period’, Anno 1848, 弘化五年戊申孟夏寫 (Kôka Go’nen Boshin Môka’sha).
Nameta Kaian, born Bunka 9 (1812) in Shinmei’chô, Nishikanbara’gun (present-day Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture). His first name was Masataka 正隆, but he changed it to Masayasu 正泰 when prefectural governor Masataka Kusumoto arrived in 1872. His other name is Kitagai 北崖. He was born in the family of priests of the Niigata Shinmei-gu Shrine. Thus became a priest, and took the name Izumi 和泉. He first studied under Shiga Hokuyô 志賀北洋 (?-1868), then under Nameta Untô 行田雲濤 (1798-1853) in Sanjô 三条, and later under Untô’s teacher in Kyôto: Yamamoto Baiitsu 山本梅逸 (1783-1856). Here he was given the name ‘Kaian’ 魁庵. He returned to his hometown in 1871, and in the following year, he presented his portrait to Kawamura Nagataka 川村修就, a magistrate in Niigata. He died in 1874 at the age of 62.
The painting is set on a paper background, surrounded by a shiny gold leaf border. The screen is protected by a black lacquer wooden frame with its original hardware.
Given its age the painting of the byôbu is in a good condition with some restorations and traces of age, such as some water imperfections. Please take a close look at restorations of the gold leaf mounting which is in a fair restored condition, and restorations on the back. For a clear condition reference, please take a close look at the photos as well.
Dimensions:
Total width: 350.6 cm. (2 x 59.7 cm and 4 x 57.8 cm); Height: 173.8 cm.
The room divider very suitable to be mounted flat on a wall and be presented as one piece of art.
When shipped we will add a certificate of authenticity.
