A PAIR OF LARGE SHIBAYAMA-INLAID WOOD PANELS OF VENDORS

A PAIR OF LARGE SHIBAYAMA-INLAID WOOD PANELS OF STREET VENDORS
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Finely inlaid in the Shibayama style in bone, mother-of-pearl, and wood with lacquer-gilt highlights, one panel depicting a street vendor selling tea whisks (chasen) chasing a gleefully laughing boy, the vendor with an angry expression and about to drop his double gourd, a bird flying above them, the other panel depicting a street vendor selling potted cherry trees and wearing a small pouch on his waist inscribed Hoshi no yoshiji ('watch out for fire'), a bird flying above him as well. Note the expressively crafted facial expressions. Both panels framed behind glass and with inlaid seal mark.

SIZE 80.2 x 51.1 cm each

Condition: Excellent condition with traces of wear, no inlays are missing.
Provenance: British collection.