Product Description

6719                A gold and coloured lacquer furosaki screen (for tea ceremony use) with uzura (quails), hagi (bush clover) and kibi (millet) on a roiro (black lacquer) ground

Signed: Zuisho

Japan 20th century Shōwa period

Dimensions: H. 18” x W. 66¾” (45.5cm x 169.5cm)

Tomobako (original box) inscribed: Uzura no zu furosaki (a screen with quails for tea ceremony)

Printed on an accompanying slip:

Shikanji Shoichi (Inami Urushi Kōgeika)
Kitamura Shirane nado to tomo ni Nitten de Katsuyaku.
Shiga-ken Yanmā Kaikan (chōkoku to shitsunai sōshoku de yūmei na tatemono Showa 33 nen kansei) no seisaku ni Takenaka Soyokazera to tomo ni sanka suru.

(Shikanji Shoichi, a lacquer artisan from Inami, and Kitamura Shirane were active participants of Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition). Together with Takenaka Soyokaze, he took part in decorating Yanmā Assembly Hall in Shiga Prefecture, a building famous for its indoor decorations completed Showa 33, 1959)

Shikanji Shoichi (1911–1990). Gō (art name): Zuisho. In 1926 he began to study lacquer techniques under Yamamoto Tatsuzo. From 1950 he exhibited at Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition), and in 1962 his work took the Grand Prize at the Toyama Prefectural Art Exhibition. In 1983 and 1987 Zuisho was decorated by the government for his important contributions to the arts.

The furosaki byobu (screen) is specifically designed for use in chanoyu (tea ceremony). Placed in the corner of the tea house it denotes the season or whatever theme the host has chosen to portray. It works as a backdrop for the kama (kettle) and also for the various precious objects such as the koro (incense box) and chawan (tea bowl) used during the performance of this ancient ritual.

In Japan uzura (quails) are emblematic of autumn, fruitfulness and also symbolise martial valour due to their fighting spirit. A popular motif from the Muromachi period onwards they are usually depicted with millet or autumnal grasses.

Millet is also associated with autumn and was introduced from the mainland to Japan during the Yayoi period (900BC – 250AD).