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A piece of history,
transformed into serene art.
The traditional Japanese furnishing—the folding screen.
To partition space, to decorate.
Once an indispensable tool in people's daily lives, folding screens eventually came to be adorned with paintings and stories. They evolved from tools into art, flourishing as symbols of authority and aesthetic sensibility.
With changes in lifestyle, folding screens began to fulfill their purpose. Though they are precious cultural heritage vividly depicting the customs of their time, many that survive today are in poor condition, and not a few are unsuitable for appreciation.
At fof, we seek out folding screens that lie dormant throughout Japan, and through the discerning eye of antique dealers deeply versed in art and the delicate craftsmanship of Kyoto hyōgushi artisans who have inherited traditional techniques, we continue to kindle the light of history, transforming them into a singular art imbued with new sensibility.
The Art of
Creative Interpretation
Consider a fishing basket becoming a flower vase, or a wooden well bucket finding new life as a fresh water jar in the tea room. For centuries, tea masters have found inspiration in everyday objects, expanding their aesthetic possibilities by re-imagining them as tea utensils. For example, seeing a piece of artwork as a window brings depth to the space it inhabits. This is one of the possibilities we envision with Jidai Byobu. All it takes is a little intuition and a playful spirit. We invite you to discover your very own interpretations of the past.
