Description A MASSIVE LACQUERED WOOD SCREEN OF MINAMOTO NO YORITOMO’S BOAR HUNTING PARTY
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
The screen carved from dark wood and consisting of four parts with silvered brass fittings holding the individual parts together, the fittings decorated with foliate designs and inome-symbols (boar’s heart). The screen is finely lacquered in takamaki-e and hiramaki-e with a continuous image of a boar hunting scene, showing Minamoto no Yoritomo with attendants looking on as Nitta No Shiro slays a giant boar, while soldiers are chasing after many boars with large clubs. Mount fuji is visible in the distance and the reverse shows the silver moon behind nashiji clouds and many boars trying to escape the treacherous scene on the other side.
Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199) was the founder and first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. In May 1193 he hosted a boar hunting party near Mount Fuji, where a giant boar charged at him which Nitta no Shiro (also known as Tadatsune) bravely slayed, saving Yoritomo.
SIZE 188 x 302 cm
Condition: Good overall condition with expected surface wear, cracks, losses particularly to edges. The lacquer work is in very good condition.
Provenance: British collection.