A pair of six panel byobu by Abbot of Daitokuji, Priest Sohan Gempo (Murasakino Shoun) dating from the Meiji to Taisho period. The subject is an old song used to teach the basics of literacy as it is a panagram, containing every letter in the Japanese alphabet once; a popular subject for Zen artists for its simplicity and usefulness. The song itself seems to say, Keep it Simple, and the title I Ro Ha is used to mean basic. It can be translated according to Dr...

An antique Japanese two panel screen painting (byobu) of the battle between the two historical figures Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Benkei.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (born Ushiwakamaru c.1159) was raised in a monastery near in Kyoto. His incredible skill as a warrior emerged when he was very young. In the scene depicted here, he famously defeats the great warrior-monk, Benkei (Saito Musashibo Benkei). The young Ushiwakamaru easily leaps over the larger warrior...

A Nihonga Scene mounted on a two panel screen of a thatched house in the winter forest, blossoms just opening on the garden trees by Takahashi Shiko (1897-1970). The scene has been created over a complete wash of white, making the crisp early spring morning real and sharp. The screen measures 74-1/2 x 67-1/2 inches (189 x 172 cm) and is in excellent condition bordered in a red lacquer frame typical of the 1920s and 30s and retains the original backing paper...

Zen calligraphy: 花開萬国春(Hana Hiraku Bankoku no Haru) - A single flower opens and announces the arrival of spring to the world. Painted with ink on paper. Sealed.

The meaning of the word "flower bloom(花開)" in Zen wording is to become free of mind...

A very rare Momoyama Period masterpiece Japanese two-panel screen with chrysanthemum and other flowers and foliage. Exquisitely painted on gold leaf, with original sumptuous silk brocade. 72w x 21h inches, 183w x 53h cm.

18th Century Japanese Two Panel Painted Screen. All four seasons are represented here, with the background representing Winter and the kimono patterns representing Spring, Summer, and Fall. This is an unusual and creative take on the tagasode (whose sleeves?) genre of screen painting that usually depicts interiors. The pair of kimono poetically speak of a romantic liaison. The colors are breathtaking and the painting technique is pure master work. 68 inches (173 cm)w x 60 inches (152.5 cm)h...

The size of Screen: 70" Long x 24" High x 9/16" Thick, when the screen spread. Each panel 35" Long. Beautiful Japanese Byobu screen.. It is all hand painted on Japanese paper. The background where clouds area done in gold leaf works. The painting subject from Genpei Gassen. I pasted the subject below. The painting of each Samurai figures are well excuted. The screen is done from late Edo to early Meiji period, 1850-1870's...

Sculptured black pines rise from the misty forest floor, yellow sky fading beyond; a brilliant modernist rendition of this traditional theme by Yamauchi Issei (b. 1929). The entire scene is performed with colored paper, applied directly or wetted and applied as pulp. Fantastical shapes seem to dance across the two panel canvas. Gold strips applied in the upper branches are sunlight’s last rays reflecting off the needles, the yellow sky implicating late summer dusk...

A furosaki tea room screen made of a very large hanga woodblock print in the fashion of Inui Tai mounted within a simple wooden frame and stamped in the lower left corner. An intriguing work, village roofs are visible over a sea of rice containing all manner of small country scenes...

The dreamlike quality which gave Taisho period art its unique flavor is readily apparent in this sumptuous composition by Kido Soi featuring long tailed birds along a tumbling stream...

Mountains crowned with white snow rise majestically over the misty waters of a winter lake surrounded in dark pine and cedar on this Superb landscape by Nomura Bunkyo. Ink and light color on silk with powdered gold mist. The mounting is all original and top quality, brilliant blue silk border on front in black lacquer frame with fine bronze hardware and entirely backed in patterned blue satin. The screen is 68 x 149 inches (173 x 373 cm )in excellent condition but for handling marks at the ed...

Japanese Two Panel Screen of Snow Cranes on a Willow Tree. This great masterpiece is one of the most amazing screen paintings we have seen. Each Snow Crane is painted with its own personality and attitude, using the finest pigments and Gofun (Oyster Shell Lacquer). All of the elements of this painting are just magical. Brocade borders in a black lacquered frame make this two panel screen complete this work of art. 66 inches (167.5 cm)w x 62 inches (157.5 cm)h. Excellent Condition. From a prom...

A six panel screen with mineral colors, and gold leaf clouds meandering though out scenes depicting a view from the Tale of Genji. The chapter that would be closely associated to the screen is Chapter 19, Usugumo, translated as Wisp of Clouds. The scene is showing Prince Genji wearing a white informal court robe, lined with red and is selecting robes for the visit of Lady Akashi.

Age: Late 18th to Early 19th century, Edo Period

Size: Length 109" Height 47.5"

A rare late Edo Period four-panel silverized Japanese Screen. A fine scholar's composition of bamboo, rocks, and a swallow in flight. A beautifully painted sumi, with a fine oxidized silverized patina. It appears to have the original brocade frame. The screen is in extraordinary condition for its age. A superb, museum quality screen and an important find. Height: 40 inches, 101.5 cm; Width: 72 inches, 183 cm.

A pair of small gold doors depicting Asian Civets (Jakoneko) in a flower strewn garden dating from the early to mid Edo period (17th to 18th century) reminiscent of the famous pair of screens heralding the same image by Kano Yukinobu (Utanosuke, active Muromachi period). The handmade bronze handles are in the shape of hollyhock leaves, intimating connection to the Tokugawa clan, head of the Shogunate. The painted panels are 45 x 28 cm each (17-1/2 x 11 inches), the doors roughly 48.5 x 32 cm (...

Starting with the famous verse by Chinese Scholar YoYu (AD 53-18) ”The written character is a picture of the heart” (Sho kokoro Ga nari) here are written 42 rules of calligraphy spread over 10 narrow panels by the famous calligraphist Ide Gakei dated 1677. The verses appear to have been written in one sitting, the style going from crisp perfect Kaisho characters through Gyosho stylized characters and into the elegantly running Grass script (Sosho). The way the artist allows his hand to flo...

Two panel Japanese folding screen with image of two deers set on a grassy meadow-like surrounding with a waxing gibbous moon set on the left panel screen. The simple watercolor appearance, minimalist lines, and motif like appearance of the images are the signature elements seen in most Rinpa School. Age: Edo Period (18th-19th century). Size: Height: 67.5" Width: 68"

Rare Japanese 6 panel-screen in ink, color pigments and gold leaf. On the second screen, on the last panel on the left, one can distinguish many Tartar warriors hunting as well as falconers on horseback. On the rightmost three panels, a lake and rice paddies, a variety of wild birds, all against a backdrop of mountains, waterfalls and trees in the style of the Kano school interspersed with clouds of gold and gold flecks. These Tartars (or Tatars) are identifiable by their dashing equestrian p...