pine

Provenance…Byobu and the Race to Acquisition

prov-e-nance ˈpräv-nən(t)s, ˈprä-və-ˌnän(t)s
noun. the place of origin or earliest known history of something.

This month over at my Provenance column on Krista & Tami’s blog Cloth & Kind I could not resist writing about byobu, those wonderful folding Japanese screens which have been entrancing the world for centuries. I have long loved them and purchasing an antique one was on the top of my list when I moved to Tokyo almost nine years ago. I knew the perfect spot to hang it, just above my 18th century Shanxi region bamboo altar table. Early on I found many byobu of the right age and patina to be priced beyond well beyond my reach, but perhaps in my second year I stumbled across this small one, made from the fragments of a very very old screen, at the Heiwajima Antiques Fair. This instagram photo does not begin to do it justice as it doesn’t highlight the delicate gold leaf confetti in the left corner or the fencing around the chrysanthemums in the right. Unfortunately, everything is all packed now, so I can’t show you a better photo – you’ll have to wait for the unpacking at the other end.

It seems like perfect closure then that at the very last Heiwajima show I would be attending for a while this past May, that I found my dream byobu! I’ll give you a tantalizing detail but for more on it and on byobu in general, please click over to read the post on Cloth & Kind.

I know these last few posts have been all about my stuff, but there is something about leaving a country that one has lived in for a while that sends everyone on a frenzy of acquisition! I can’t tell you how busy I was with antiques for other people this spring (antique stone statue everyone!) and along the way I caught the bug myself. Honestly, while hundreds of items have passed though my hands these last years, I have always been good at letting them go on to their new homes. Here at the very end, I felt the need to tick off some boxes for myself. Has this ever happened to you? What did you buy when abroad, either living or traveling? Are there things you regret not buying?

Jun 14, 2013 By tokyojinja in Antique Shows, Artist Spotlight, Expat Life, Provenance Columns 5 Comments Tags: byobu, Cloth & Kind, Japanese screens, pine, Provenance

Kadomatsu…A Traditional Welcome for the New Year

After a friendly complaint about the paltry kadomatsu (literally, gate pine) on yesterdays’ post, I took my camera with me today. Pairs of kadomatsu, flanking the entrance to homes or businesses, have been ensuring a fresh start to the New Year with their auspicious symbolism for over 400 years. Matsu (pine) is the most important component, signifying longevity as the pine tree is long-lived. Take (bamboo) represents strength and prosperity, as it grows straight and strong. Ume (plum blossom) is sometimes added, symbolizing endurance, hope and constancy, as it is the first flower to bloom after winter. Chrysanthemum (signifying perfection, wealth and truth) and other flowers are sometimes added too. The arrangement is bound in rice straw and sometimes zig-zag heisoku (Shinto sacred papers) are tied on too. Officially, there should be 3 pieces of bamboo, cut on an angle to allow the spirits to enter, and all facing different directions to ward off evil spirits, but as you can see, florists take quite a bit of artistic license. I am not sure what the oranges signify (perhaps a sweet year?), but please let me know if you do.

And the pièce de résistance…

Jan 6, 2011 By tokyojinja in Design Motif, Gardens 14 Comments Tags: bamboo, kadomatsu, New Years, pine