Page 258 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

264 | SHIGEYOSHI: A MINIATURE
SHIBAYAMA-INLAID WOOD STANDING
SCREEN OF TAIRA TSUNEMASA

By Shigeyoshi, signed Shigeyoshi with seal Sei
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The screen of square form, the frame decorated with scrolling
clouds, finely inlaid in the Shibayama style with lacquer and ivory
depicting Taira no Tsunemasa with his biwa in a sack decorated
with roundels of dragons and tied up with a gilt cord, all on a fine
sabiji-nuri ground in imitation of iron. The scene is adapted from
the 14th century epic Tale of Heike, in which Tsunemasa plays his
biwa at Tsukubusuma Shrine on Chikubushima island in Lake Biwa
for the kami. The reverse shows a pine forest with a fence and gate,
the roof of a small hut visible as well, in high relief, beautifully and
naturalistically carved and incised in imitation of an oil painting.
The front side is inscribed with a gold-lacquered poem: ... Kamiyo-
no-mama-no, … tsuki ya sumiran (‘Since the ancient time of
myriads of gods … the moon is clear and lucid’). The reverse signed
SHIGEYOSHI with seal Sei.
SIZE 35.5 x 34 cm

Condition: Good condition with some minor cracks to the screen
frame and small chips to the edge of the panel, one crack to the
reverse of the panel.
Provenance: British collection.
Estimate EUR 4,000
Starting price EUR 2,000

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