Japanese Six-Panel Byobu Folding Screen

A traditional Japanese six-panel folding screen, known as a byobu, featuring a narrative polychrome scene painted on a gold-leaf or gold-pigmented paper ground. The artwork depicts figures in classical Japanese attire traversing a garden or architectural landscape with pine trees and floral elements, characteristic of the Edo or Meiji period style. The screen is constructed using a wooden lattice core covered with multiple layers of paper, finished with a black lacquered wood frame and protective hardware at the corners. The background shows a rich, aged patina with significant tonal variations and darkening, common in antique screens. Noticeable condition issues include visible vertical creasing and wear at the hinges where the panels connect, minor abrasions to the painted surface, and some foxing or staining consistent with age. One hinge appears to have a more prominent gap or potential structural weakness. The quality suggests a hand-painted piece intended for domestic decoration, utilizing traditional mineral pigments and potentially gold leaf squares, though the heavy oxidation has muted the brilliance of the gilding over time.