Antique Shibayama Japanese Folding Dressing Privacy Screen, Japanese vintage room divider. FREE HAND Delivery.

Please note that I have had an operation and will be unable to dispatch larger items till later in the month, as I am not supposed to move heavy items etc. My partner will continue to try and get smaller items out as normal. If you would like to know if we can get your item out in our normal timeframes, please just message us with a link and we will let you know. If you are happy to wait for your item, then please go ahead and place your order as normal! Thanks for your business, and your patience and understanding. Chris

This Japanese Shibayama Two Piece Dressing or Vanity Screen is a wonderful antique piece of art which is also superbly functional. It dates from the late 1800s which in Japan was the late Edo to early Meiji period. Shibayama is the name given to the decorative technique of using semi prevcious materials to create elaborate and three dimensional designs. This screen has beautiful designs of Roosters, blossoms and trees on it. It is in very good order for its age and would make a superb vintage addition to your home as a room divider, vanity screen or artistic accent to the decor.

There is a rooster on each of the individual screens - Rooster are one of the 12 Chinese zodiac symbols, which are referenced in Japanese culture too. Roosters as we know represent the new dawn, the awakening - quite apt for a screen which probably served as a dressing or vanity screen when the owner got up and dressed in the morning. Roosters are also highly regarded for their protective and strong characters. They are of course very attractive with their vast plumage, giving artists lots of creative licence when it comes to depicting them in Shiyabama craft.

The Roosters are beautifully made out of those semi precious materials including ivory, mother of pearl, tortoise shell. Maybe not de rigeur nowadays butin Victorian ages, it was symbloci of valuing these natural resources and allowing them to be 'shown off' in society through art. Various woods are also used in the screen, including a lacquered wood as the main background, and some Far Eastern hardwood for the main dark wood frame - which is also beautifully carved with botanical and avian detail. The lacquered wood background has beautiful flowers painted on it to add to the prettiness and floral/botanical/nature theme of the screen.

The screen has two beautifully paired pieces, it is quite likely there would have been additional screens attached at some point. Similarly, there reverse of the screen may also have had some decorative detail. Not as elaborate and bold as the front, but some floral painting and maybe some small 2D elements. The reverse is now a plain lacquered wood canvas with some subtle indications of past decoration - the lack thereof does not detract from this gorgeous piece. The front certainly makes up for it.

This is an antique and so the condition will show age and odd marks. But it is in very good shape and is ready to use. The screen currently sits on lovely delicate wheels. These screens were often imported to Europe and American when oriental pieces grew in popularity, perhaps the wheels were added for European tastes too. I would be careful using the wheels. As an fyi, the top carved pieces of wood are loose too for easy assembly and cleaning presumably, so watch out for that.

Smashing two piece antique screen for varied uses. Hugely attractive and a statement piece of Japanese art. Please see photos and video.

Size : each panel is 181cm tall and 73cm wide, which means opened up flat it will be 181cm tall and approx 150cm wide
DELIVERY.
This will be delivered by hand by a proper furniture courier.
Delivery is free to mainland England and Wales only.
There will be a cost anywhere else so please, contact us for a quote.
This will cost us between £60-80 so if you wish collect from Lewes in East Sussex we will refund the saved courier charges.
The couriers will arrange a day and time window with you.
Delivery is to the front door. Should the item be large the courier will need a hand your end or contact us and we will arrange a more expensive two man delivery.
It will take about 2 weeks.
Please forward your telephone number after placing the order for us to pass onto the courier so they arrange a convenient date and time window for you.