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: ... Kamiyono-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.