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Superbly Carved Antique Japanese 3 Panel Folding Screen. This 3 panel Room divider screen is an exquisite piece of artwork. This is an extremely fine Japanese screen, superbly carved and detailed. The carving of the frame alone is a marvel, with its dragons and lifelike flowing waves. The dragon in the far east is a benign creature of the sky, a bringer of wind and thunder and life-giving rain and an abundance of rice and other produce, and therefore a symbol of wealth and fecundity and good fortune. The main panel depicts birds and a tree in blossom, most likely a cherry to signify the perfect but transient nature of human life, carefully modeled in carved nacre (mother of pearl) and a rendering in colored resin and lacquer of the classic five-story Japanese pagoda, the first multistory buildings to be constructed with earthquake-proof technology, used as far back as the 7th century and still standing. In front are a pair of tr (temple pedestal lanterns). The small, two-character inscription on them reads. Meaning Dedication or Offering to Buddha which offering (of prayer) became active once the lantern was lit. In the lower register of this Superbly Carved Antique Japanese 3 Panel Folding Screen are panels comprising a family of karashishi (dragon dogs) and lucky botan (tree peony) blossoms, bringer of health, wealth, beauty and eternal happiness, all lavishly carved in high relief. This screen is in a style known as Yokohama or Hamamono sculptural furniture, with every exterior surface exuberantly carved. It dates to the period 1900 1912, the very end of the Japanese Meiji era, and a time in the West when this kind of virtuoso and densely ornamented export furniture became fashionable. The Japanese artisans were determined to show that, as part of their rapid Westernization at the time, they were capable of turning out anything the equal of, or even superior to, the splendor and artistic merit of the European or American decorative arts, particularly that of the Western Art Nouveau taste, which this is reminiscent of, and which was so fashionable at the time. The wood of the frame is probably what the Japanese call cherry wood but is actually hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) or camphor wood which has a close grain but easily carved. Zelkova and mulberry were also used (this may be what the backdrop is). Zelkova in particular has this type of wavy grain. Although not perfect, this piece has survived extremely well. There is minimal loss on some of the applied details. The center panel has shifted slightly in the frame. Photos do show a missing wheel. NOTE: Please ask any questions or requests additional photos if needed prior to purchasing. Superbly Carved Antique Japanese 3 Panel Folding Screen Room Divider. Dimensions: Center Section 78 Tall, 43 Wide, 3 Deep. End panels are approx. 21 wide at widest point. East Coast Deliveries usually run more often. NOTE: Most of our pieces are unique, one of a kind pieces, and are subject to prior sale on other channels. We try to be as clear as possible in the photos attached and we do try to include areas of excessive wear that we feel you should be aware of. We usually have more pictures of most of our pieces. The item “Superbly Carved Antique Japanese 3 Panel Folding Screen, 85 wide, 78 Tall” is in sale since Monday, February 26, 2018. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian Antiques\Japan\Other Japanese Antiques”. The seller is “asian_country_antique_furniture” and is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Type: Carving
• Featured Refinements: Antique Japanese Screen
• Region of Origin: Japan
• Age: 1900-1940
• Primary Material: Wood
• Original/Reproduction: Antique Original
• Color: Medium Wood Tone