The folding screen was once an indispensable item of furniture in Japan. Screens were set up for special occasions such as weddings; unfolding a single ²ú²â¨­²ú³Ü folding screen transformed an ordinary room into a magical space. Many of the screens in Yoshihiro Takishita¡¯s collection of more than 200 are by unnamed artists.

¡°I¡¯m not concerned about the artist¡¯s name,¡± he says. ¡°Nor is it a case of the older the screen, the better. Edo, Meiji, Taisho, Showa ... ²ú²â¨­²ú³Ü from every era have something unique to offer. Each is suffused with the spirit of the artisans who made it. And every screen has been put to practical use while passed down from generation to generation.¡±

Goodnight, sleep tight: Low screens known as makura (pillow) ²ú²â¨­²ú³Ü were placed near the head of a futon to block drafts or provide privacy. The colorful painting on this Edo Period (1603-1868) one promises to inspire pleasant dreams of festival scenes.
Goodnight, sleep tight: Low screens known as makura (pillow) ²ú²â¨­²ú³Ü were placed near the head of a futon to block drafts or provide privacy. The colorful painting on this Edo Period (1603-1868) one promises to inspire pleasant dreams of festival scenes.