237 - A SUPERB FOUR-PANEL SILK EMBROIDERY ‘BIRDS AND MARINE LIFE AMID CLOUDS AND WAVES’ BYOBU (FOLDING SCREEN)

A SUPERB FOUR-PANEL SILK EMBROIDERY ‘BIRDS AND MARINE LIFE AMID CLOUDS AND WAVES’ BYOBU (FOLDING SCREEN) Japan, late 19 th to early 20 th century, Meiji period (1868-1912) Exquisitely embroidered in polychrome silk and metallic threads on a dark silk ground. Mounted on silk brocade on four dark-lacquered wood panels with finely chased metal fittings. The exceptionally elaborate composition depicts a multitude of birds soaring and swooping above a turbulent sea beneath immense banks of stylized clouds. The birds are individually rendered in subtly graduated shades of cream, ochre, brown, gray, blue, and violet, their plumage meticulously worked in fine stitches delineating individual feathers. Above, the billowing clouds are formed from dense arrangements of concentric spirals and scrolling outlines worked in metallic thread. The lower register is dominated by monumental cresting waves, curling foam, and powerful whirlpools, their sweeping contours embroidered in long, closely spaced metallic threads that create an extraordinary sense of movement. Amid the turbulent currents appears a remarkable variety of marine life, including numerous fish, a ray, an eel, crustaceans, and an octopus, worked in vivid shades of rose, turquoise, green, and gold. Particularly striking is the ingenious layering of the metallic wave patterns over the bodies of the fish, creating the convincing impression of creatures swimming beneath the water's surface. The contrasting embroidery techniques, from the minute stitches describing individual feathers and scales to the sweeping metallic threads forming the waves, demonstrate exceptional technical mastery, while the dark ground lends the entire composition remarkable depth and luminosity. SIZE 171 x 240.8 cm Condition: Very good condition with expected wear. Minor soiling, minute losses to the embroidery, including to the head of the octopus, occasional fraying and a few loose threads. Few minute tears, rubbing and wear along the joints, with some old reinforcements. The reverse with old reinforcements and patches. Presenting beautifully. The present screen is a superb example of Japanese pictorial embroidery, known as nui-e, which flourished during the Meiji period. During this era, Japanese textile artists transformed traditional embroidery into ambitious large-scale compositions that rivaled contemporary painting. Leading Kyoto workshops employed highly skilled embroiderers, frequently working from designs supplied by prominent painters, to create elaborate works for prestigious interiors, international exhibitions, and export. The present example is particularly distinguished by its striking juxtaposition of meticulously observed birds and marine creatures with the monumental, almost abstract treatment of the clouds and waves. The extensive use of metallic threads, combined with the rich variety of stitches and subtle gradations of color, lends the composition an exceptional sense of rhythm, movement, and dramatic intensity. Museum comparison: Compare a related four-panel silk-embroidered screen depicting cormorant fishing at night, dated 1900-1910, measuring 167.5 x 276 cm, produced by Iida & Co. (Takashimaya) after a design probably by Takeuchi Seiho, in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, accession number EA2000.3. Compare also a related four-panel embroidered silk screen depicting peacocks, by Tanaka Rishichi, dated 1893, measuring 84.2 x 190.9 cm, in the Tokyo National Museum, accession number I-27.