Pieces of history,
transformed into art
The folding screen is a type of traditional Japanese furnishing.
Initially an indispensable item for daily life used to partition space,
to decorate, and to enhance comfort,
it gradually began featuring paintings and intricate patterns.
By the early Muromachi period,
it had transcended its function as a mere tool to become an art form,
reaching its peak as a symbol of authority and aesthetic consciousness.
During the Edo period,
the folding screen’s popularity spread widely among the common people,
fostering culture by making art an integral part of domestic life.
With changes in lifestyle,
however, folding screens eventually disappeared from view.
While they are precious cultural artifacts that vividly capture the customs of their era,
many surviving examples are in poor condition and unfit for display.
Jidai Byobu aims to change this.
We seek out these dormant screens across Japan,
then, with the discerning eye of an antique dealer well-versed in art and the precise craftsmanship of a traditionally trained Kyoto mounting artisan,
transform them into singular works of art imbued with a new sensibility.
Step into the profound world of Jidai Byobu,
where past and present individualities intertwine.
Standard
Boldly trimmed sections of folding screen paintings. Refined and profoundly moving.
Yose
Fragments from multiple folding screen paintings woven together into a single, timeless work of art.
Standard
Boldly trimmed sections of folding screen paintings. Refined and profoundly moving.
Yose
Fragments from multiple folding screen paintings woven together into a single, timeless work of art.
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.
