R30,000 - R50,000
R30,000
A JAPANESE KANO SCHOOL SIX-LEAF "CRANE AND THREE FRIENDS OF WINTER" SCREEN, EDO PERIOD, 1603 - 1867
Ink and distemper on mulberry washi paper, the six panels arranged as a continuous "Three friends of Winter", "Sho-Chiku-Bai" landscape with cranes meandering in Spring amongst large pine trees, bamboo shoots and blossoming prunus at the edge of a lake, reserved on a golden field enclosed by brocade
LOT ESSAY
The natural world has provided people in Asia with inspiration for a rich and varied language of symbols. Among the most popular is a group of three plants, pine, bamboo, and plum—each with its own long-established, auspicious associations.
They are known collectively as the Three Friends of Winter or "Sho-Chiku-Bai", and are associated with the ability to survive adversity and embrace the revitalisation that comes with the New Year and spring.
Pine:
As an evergreen, the pine is a popular symbol of fortitude. It can live for centuries, and therefore represents longevity. Because it grows tall and resists the elements, pine can symbolize moral uprightness and strength.
Bamboo:
An extremely versatile and useful member of the grass family, bamboo has built up a wide array of symbolic connotations over the centuries. Its straight, tall stalks link it to moral uprightness, but because it is both an evergreen and can bend in strong winds, it represents endurance through flexibility in adversity. Because the stalks are hollow, bamboo also stands for humility and receptivity, as well as the metaphysical concept of emptiness.
Plum:
Famous for its hardiness, and because it is one of the first trees to flower in the spring, the plum tree is often associated with endurance, perseverance, and rejuvenation. In other contexts, the delicate and light-coloured plum blossoms can also symbolize purity and feminine gracefulness.
100cm high, 378cm wide
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