Sannose Gohonjin Art Museum◆Exhibition Title

Event period：August 28th to November 4th,2024

Collection Exhibition Ⅱ“Flowers and Birds” – Flowers and Birds vividly expressed in Art –◆Exhibition Overview
Flowers, which are beautiful in all four seasons, andbirds flying freely have attracted many people sinceancient times and have been favored as themes forartwork. The exhibition focuses on different
representations of flowers and birds across artistic
genres, including painting, ceramics, and lacquerworks.
At all times and places, people have createdallegorical images from the ecology and appearance offlowers and birds that lead to good-luck talismans andgood fortune.
This exhibition features works such as “Water Fowl”
by Hirata Gyokuun (1787-1855), which depicts ariverside willow and a pair of water birds, a symbol ofbond, and “Peafowls” by Omura Taiun (1883-1938),
which combines a peafowl, believed to ward off evil
spirits and bring good luck, a pine tree, a symbol of
longevity and constancy, and a peony, which
represents wealth, in a folding screen. The exhibition
also exhibits paintings of flowers and birds of the four
seasons on fusuma sliding doors.
Like hanging scrolls, folding screens, and painting
on a fusuma (sliding doors used as a room partition),building materials have been elevated to the level ofart as people in Japan incorporate beauty into theirlives and put effort into finding ways to enrich their
daily lives.

《Water Fowl 》

HIRATA, Gyokuun (1787-1855)
Edo period
Ink and tint color on paper

Many of the flowers and birds depicted as traditional subjects are full of seasonal
feeling and are sometimes motifs expressing prayers and celebrations for prosperity
and happiness.
In the area of lacquer works craft, we are exhibiting an inkstone box and a writing
stand in maki-e lacquer, both of which were designed with scenes from “The Tale ofGenji,” together with bush warblers and plum trees, a favorite design for wedding
furnishings from the late Edo period to the early Meiji period, and produced withoutstanding handwork.
In the area of lacquer works craft, we are exhibiting an inkstone box and a writing
stand in maki-e lacquer, both of which were designed with scenes from “The Tale ofGenji,” together with Japanese bush warblers and plum trees, a favorite design forwedding furnishings from the late Edo period to the early Meiji period, andproduced with outstanding handwork.
Another highlight is the elaborate Shibayama inlay works, which were made forexport during the Meiji and early Showa periods and were popular with foreigners.
Enjoy a moment surrounded by flowers and birds at the museum.

▲《Peafowls》
Creator: OMURA, Taiun (1883-1938)
Unknown
Color with gold on silk,
Pair of six-panel folding screens.

◀《Hirameji Hatsune Maki-e
inkstone box and writing table》
From the "Hatsune" chapter of the "The Tale of Genji"
Creator: unknown
Lacquer, Gold powder and gold leaf. etc.

◆View point

The Shibayama inlay works《Flower Vase by The Shibayama inlay works》
Anonymous Craftsman
From the Meiji period to the early Showa period
Ivory, ebony, lacquer, etc.

During the Edo period, Japan adopted a national isolation policy for more than
200 years. Based on "The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States
and Japan" signed in 1858, the following year the three ports of Yokohama,Nagasaki, and Hakodate were opened as trading ports. From the Port of Yokohama
in Kanagawa, many arts and crafts, such as lacquerware, ceramics, and wooden
products, were exported to Europe and the United States. Having come into contact
with these exquisite and sophisticated arts and crafts, people from abroad developed
a strong interest in Japanese culture. Among them, the most popular were theelaborate Shibayama inlay works, which express the beauty of Japanese natureusing the highly skilled techniques of artisans.

"Shibayama" is a place name in ChibaPrefecture. The name comes from
‘Shibayama Senzo’※, who was born inthe area in the late Edo period and was
the originator of this traditional craft.
Its distinctive feature is the inlay
technique, in which small relief carvings
are fitted into the piece. Using various
materials such as shells, ivory, coral,
tortoiseshell, and jade, designs ofpeople, flowers, and birds are carved
into relief form. To fit these shapes, adepression is carved into the basesurface of lacquer or ivory, and the relief
mentioned above is then fitted into thedepression to create the piece. The
result is a three-dimensional work ofart. This production requires a highPart of 《Flower Vase by The

level of skill. The Shibayama inlay Shibayama inlay works》
works fascinated people from overseas,
and traders requested shapes anddesigns that suited the tastes and houses of Westerners. This led to the creation ofproducts that were different from what had come before.
The Shibayama inlay works are a traditional craft that flourished with theopening of Japan to the world and reflect the times.
However, the number of craftsmen is steadily decreasing, with only a few remaining
to carry on the craft.
※He changed his surname from Onogi Senzo toPart of 《Flower Vase by The

Shibayama Senzo and later popularized theelaborate Shibayama inlay works.

Shibayama inlay works》

◆Recommended works《Jewelry box by The Shibayama inlay works》
Anonymous Craftsman
From the Meiji period to the early Showa period
Lacquer work, metal work / shells, gold leaf, etc.

From a different angle