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Greetings.

I obtaining a large Japanese screen from an estate sale but I do not know the painter. The seller said it was their grandfather's and he paid somewhere around $5000 many years ago but I have no way to confirm. I am trying to determine who the painter is and what the value might be.

This screen is very large. There are 6 panels, each 2' x 7', so in total it is 12' x 7'. Some of the hinges need repair (need pin) and there is some minor cosmetic damage to the painting from moving it around. It is still in great condition, just not perfect.

Does anyone recognize this painter or any other relivant information?

Thank you!

Hi, It seems to be a 20th century piece. A traditional byobu would have reversable paper hinges.... not metal ones. It is also lacking the traditional brocade borders. The "gold leaf" looks very odd. it is too regular and identical ( gold square to square) to be hand applied. It looks more like some sort of "printed" "gold leaf". This has then had a hand painted design painted on to it.
So in my opinion more of a decorative piece than a valuable antique.
Regards sue

Irises on a six-panel folding screen (Byōbu)
without signature.
Just for comparison please refer Ogata Kōrin -
Japanese painter 1658-1716 - on Google (Irises at Yatsuhashi)

With regards,
I.Nagy

Wow, this is great info Sue and I.Nagi. Thank you so much.

Can anyone else chime in as to its authenticity? Do people agree with Sue or is there a chance this is authentic?

Looking at the painting, I does not appear to be gold leaf. It looks like paint to me. And the squares are one solid piece underneath, there isn’t a break between any of the squares. I honestly wouldn’t know what gold leaf feels like but I think I could tell, and this doesn’t appear to be gold. It just seems like paint.

With the help of I.Nagi, I was able to find a similar painting online at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I will attach the link to the thread.

Assuming this is a reproduction or even a “decrotive piece”, does anyone know a ballpark value?

URL Title :Met Museum Similar Painting

Hi Tom
The squares of gold leaf (or sometimes silver) are the background. Onto this the artist paints his work in a gouache (gofun) like paint. So the leaf is the background and the paint is on top.
Yours is like this except for the fact that the "gold leaf" seems to be fake. If hand applied each square would be slightly different to the next.... This does not seem to be the case with yours, they are more or less identical to the adjacent square.
Am I making myself clearer ?
In my understanding the leaf was used to reflect light when early interiors were lit by candle...not electric. They bounced light and brightened the room.
I have handled many Japanese screens over the years and yours does not feel very old to me.
Regards sue

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