SHIBAYAMA YASUNOBU: A SPECTACULAR TWO PANEL SHIBAYAMA TABLE SCREEN
By Shibayama Yasunobu, signed YasunobuJapan, Meiji period (1868-1912)Tsuishu lacquer cartouche to backside with carved signature of Shibayama Yasunobu, an important member of the Shibayama family/school. The front with a painted poem on a rock roughly translating to “Spring breeze, my heart and flowers are full of spring as I head to Mukoujima”. Extremely fine inlays of ivory, mother-ofpearl, tsuishu lacquer, horn, hardwood and coral, all above a gold and silver lacquer ground in hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with nashiji. Carved and incised ivory frame with silver, enamel and gold lacquer embellishments. The front side with a scene of promenading figures on a river shore with Mount Fuji, several boats, pavilions and pagodas in the far background. The backside with an undulating landscape, a river and two birds perched on the branch of a blooming cherry tree, while two more are approaching. The lower four panels on both sides with magnificently inlaid Mille Fleurs décor.SIZE 24.2 x 23 cmCondition: Superb, absolutely original and unrestored condition. Very few microscopic losses, minor wear and traces of use, mostly to feet and silver embellishments. The ivory with few natural age cracks and minor warping.Provenance: British collection.