An exquisite example of a "Nanban Byobu" (or "Southern Barbarian screen");
a beautiful visual record of the encounter between the Japanese and the Portuguese



[JAPANESE FOLDING SCREEN - NANBAN BYOBU - THE PORTUGUESE IN JAPAN].
[A Japanese folding screen, specifically a nanban byôbu, depicting the arrival of a Portuguese ship in Japan].
[Japan, late Edo period (1615-1868)]. 104 x 272 cm (each illustrated panel: ca. 90.5 x 44.5 cm). Ink, watercolours, gold paint, and gold leaf on paper. The image is surrounded by a frame of silk brocade (a narrow frame in burgundy and gold and a wider frame in yellow, gold, and black, with a clear floral pattern; together the frame is 5 cm wide), the whole is mounted on six roiro (black) lacquered wood panels, with gilt metal fittings on the outer corners of the outer panels. The panels are backed with decorative paper. [6 panels]. Full description
€ 85,000
[Japan, late Edo period (1615-1868)]. 104 x 272 cm (each illustrated panel: ca. 90.5 x 44.5 cm). Ink, watercolours, gold paint, and gold leaf on paper. The image is surrounded by a frame of silk brocade (a narrow frame in burgundy and gold and a wider frame in yellow, gold, and black, with a clear floral pattern; together the frame is 5 cm wide), the whole is mounted on six roiro (black) lacquered wood panels, with gilt metal fittings on the outer corners of the outer panels. The panels are backed with decorative paper. [6 panels]. Full description