Anon. Japanese Grapevine

An original late 19th-century Japanese painting on silk, Grapevine.

A delightful Japanese painting on silk dating from towards the end of the Meiji period which spanned 1868 to 1912.

This is one a series of works that we have for sale, depicting motifs from the natural world—principally birds and flowers—favoured in traditional Japanese art.

Painting on silk (or in Japanese, kenpon chakushoku) has a long tradition that predates paper. Originating in ancient China, silk (or eginu) became the popular canvas in Japan around the 12th century. Eginu, typically, is silk fabric plainly woven and thin, and feels coarse. Thread taken from silkworm cocoons is used unrefined to weave the fabric. Ink and paint stands out vividly on the silk's glossy surface.

The silk is backed on to a stiff card backing, or urauchi, to make the delicate work more robust and durable. The framing 'ribbon' is a paper flecked with scattered gold leaf.