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Featured Pieces
Circa 1925. Taisho era Japanese Nihonga Screen. Camellia & Bamboo.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Anonymous
Camellia & Bamboo
Taisho era
Two-panel Japanese Screen. Mineral pigment, gofun and ink on silk.
A small Japanese Nihonga screen capturing...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Materials
Silk
Late 17th Century Japanese Screen Pair. Battle of Ichi-no-tani and Yashima.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Anonymous
Late 17th Century
Battle of Ichi-no-tani & Yashima
Dimensions: Each Screen: H. 175 cm x W. 385 cm (69” x 151.5”)
This pair of Japanese screens depict two significant battles from the Genpei War (1180–85), as recounted in the Tale of the Heike, a semi-historical epic chronicling the conflict between rival clans for control of Japan, written in the early 1200s.
Each screen portrays a single battle through a series of small episodes, framed by gold clouds, landscape elements, and architectural features. True to the style of many screens inspired by The Tale of the Heike, the scenes are rendered in lavish colors and gold, downplaying the brutality of the warfare. Although based on real events, these narratives often glorified and romanticized the heroic feats of the warriors. Viewers at the time would have been familiar with the story’s details, leading to a proliferation of paintings on folding screens inspired by this theme from the late Muromachi to the early Edo periods.
On the right screen, we see the Minamoto’s attack on the Taira, who have retreated from the capital, Kyoto, toward the sea. The central building represents the temporary Taira headquarters, where Taira soldiers are holding the young Emperor Antoku. The Minamoto plan to launch a surprise attack from the rear after descending the steep cliff known as Ichi-no-tani, depicted at the top center. This scene highlights the tactical brilliance of Minamoto commander Yoshitsune and the courage of his men.
The left screen captures moments from the Battle of Yashima...
Category
Antique Late 17th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Materials
Gold Leaf
Mid 18th Century Japanese Screen Pair. Crows & Pines by Unkoku Toshuku.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Unkoku Toshuku (1722-1779)
Crows and Pines
A pair of six-panel Japanese Screens. Ink and gold leaf on paper.
Dimensions: Each Screen: H. 170.5 cm x W. 375 cm
Haha-cho or mynah birds, whose forms resemble crows in artwork, were commonly depicted in Japanese art. These types of paintings were originally modeled on paintings attributed to the 13th century Chinese painter Muqi (Mokkei), whose art was enormously influential in Japan. Crows only became a theme among Japanese artists from the later 1500s onward. They likely were inspired by these imported Chinese paintings of myna birds, which are not native to Japan, substituting the native species of crow instead.
The best known early examples of the depiction of Japanese crows are two Momoyama screen...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Materials
Gold Leaf
Mid 19th Century Japanese Screen Pair. Flowers & Birds of the Four Seasons.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Shioka Sorin (1781-1850)
Flowers & Birds of the Four Seasons
Pair of six-panel Japanese Screens. Ink, gofun and pigments on silk.
Dimensions (each screen): H. 91.5cm x W. 285cm (3...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Materials
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Nihonga Screen. Bamboo Forest.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Anonymous
Bamboo Forest
Early Taisho era. Circa 1910-1915.
Six-panel Japanese Screen. Mineral pigment, gofun and ink on silk.
A six-panel Japanese folding screen, painted on silk in...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Materials
Silk
Early 20th Century Japanese Nihonga Scroll. Crow & Persimmon.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Anonymous.
Crows & Persimmon
Japanese Scroll. Pigments and Ink on Silk.
Dimensions:
Scroll: H. 235 cm x W. 106 cm.
Image: H. 168 cm x W. 86 cm.
Bird and flower paintings are oft...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens
Materials
Silk
17th Century Japanese Screen Pair. Flock of Cranes. Ink and color on gold leaf.
Located in Kyoto, JP
A pair of six-fold Japanese screens from the 17th century depicting a flock of cranes arriving at their wintering grounds. The expansive scene is heavily atmospheric. The cranes are...
Category
Antique 17th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Materials
Gold Leaf
Mid 19th Century Framed Japanese Painting. Longhorn Beetle & Poppies.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Obata Tosho (1812-1886)
Longhorn Beetle & Poppies.
Late Edo period, mid 19th Century
Framed Japanese Painting. Ink and color on paper.
Individually framed 19th century bird and f...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Materials
Paper
Mid 19th Century Framed Japanese Painting. Grasshopper & Hibiscus.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Obata Tosho (1812-1886)
Grasshopper & Hibiscus.
Late Edo period, mid 19th Century
Framed Japanese Painting. Ink and color on paper.
Individually framed 19th century bird and flow...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Materials
Paper
Mid 19th Century Framed Japanese Painting. Spider & Morning Glory.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Obata Tosho (1812-1886)
Spider & Morning Glory
Late Edo period, mid 19th Century
Framed Japanese Painting. Ink and color on paper.
Individually framed 19th century bird and flowe...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Materials
Paper
Mid 19th Century Framed Japanese Painting. Mice & Millet
Located in Kyoto, JP
Obata Tosho (1812-1886)
Mice & Millet
Late Edo period, mid 19th Century
Framed Japanese Painting. Ink and color on paper.
Individually framed 19th century bird and flower paintin...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Materials
Paper
Mid 19th Century Framed Japanese Painting. Snail, Wasp & Hollyhock.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Obata Tosho (1812-1886)
Snail, Wasp & Hollyhock
Late Edo period, mid 19th Century
Framed Japanese Painting. Ink and color on paper.
Individually framed 19th century bird and flow...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens
Materials
Paper