Japan, early 20th century. Carved and lacquer wood with mother-of-pearl inlay, embroidered fabric. Condition: very fine. A four panel wooden screen (屏風, Byobu) decorated in the four large lower panels with a sinuous motif of stylised waves, in part in gilt lacquer slightly in relief (薄肉高蒔絵, usuniku-takamaki-e) and in part with mother-of-pearl inlay (青貝, aogai). Instead, the four upper panels present a harmonious continual composition depicting embroidered folding fans (扇, ōgi), each of which decorated with a specific flower. The four panels are joined together with woven silk ties and it has remarkable decorative qualities, combining various traditional Japanese artistic techniques. lxh 272 x 182 cm