Antique Four-Panel Japanese Byobu Folding Screen

This is a traditional four-panel Japanese Byobu folding screen featuring a hand-painted floral composition of blooming peonies and bamboo. The screen is constructed using ink and pigment on paper, mounted within a wooden frame with a decorative brocaded silk border running along the top and sides. The artwork displays high-quality brushwork characteristic of the Meiji or early Showa period, with vibrant red, pink, and white peonies contrasted against deep green and black ink-wash bamboo leaves. Notable features include a vertical calligraphic inscription and red artist seal on the far left panel, which signifies the artist's signature. The physical condition shows significant age-related wear, specifically heavy foxing and moisture staining visible in the upper sections of the left two panels. There is some edge wear on the lacquer-style frame and slight color fading throughout. Despite these condition issues, the craftsmanship remains evident in the delicate layering of the peony petals and the fluid, confident strokes of the bamboo. The screen serves as both a functional room divider and a significant piece of Japanese decorative art.