A PAIR OF JAPANESE HINAGATA BYÔBU (DOLL FESTIVAL FOLDING SCREENS), 1820

A pair of six-panel hinagata byôbu 雛形屏風 (doll festival folding screens) with a continuous painting on gold leaf showcasing flower carts 花車 (hana’guruma) at the edge of a winding river. Both laden with a large bamboo basket 花かご (hanakago) overflowing with large pink peonies 牡丹 (botan). Behind one cart stands a maple tree in full autumn colours 椛 (momiji), and behind the other an elegant weeping cherry tree 枝垂れ桜 (shidare’zakura) bearing pink blossoms. Dense silver leaf clouds outline the scene at the bottom. Surrounded by a thin green and a broad greenish brown brocade silk border. Protected by a black wooden frame with its original hardware. The backing paper embellished with hand-stamped design of a bunny in a flower cartouche.
Including original wooden tomobako 供箱 (storage box) with dated inscription in black ink. Dating the pieces to: ‘An auspicious day in March of the year of the metal dragon, the 3rd year of the Bunsei period’ 文政三庚辰三月吉日, Anno 1820. Total width: 294.8 cm.
Width single screen: 147.4 cm (2 by 25.3 cm and 4 by 24.2 cm).
Height 55.1 cm.
They are in a good condition, some to be expected sign of age and wear, and some old restorations. Some browned spots and small tears in the paper.