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Overview
A pair of folding wall shelves in black lacquer, each with a shaped, scalloped back panel and a half-round shelf on small brass hinges. The back panels are painted in gold, with red and pale green accents, with Japanese scenes. One shows people fishing by the water: a figure in a straw hat crouching among leaves with a rod, two figures on a wooden raft, and a man in a wide hat carrying a basket below them. The other shows a woman under a red parasol painting at an easel, with Mount Fuji behind her, a temple building with red details, tall trees and a stone stairway. The shelves are plain black with gold-painted rims. Hung as a pair, they suit a hallway, sitting room or study, or a display of small Asian pieces.
Background
Folding lacquer wall shelves like these were made in Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912) for sale to Western buyers, and similar shelves were also made in Europe in the Japanese taste. Mount Fuji, the clothing and the temple architecture point to Japanese export work, circa 1880-1910. The pair is unmarked apart from a small scratched mark on the back of one panel. They appear to be lacquered papier-mâché (pressed paper), which fits their light weight. Each one hangs with the shelf at the top and the back panel below it, as in the first photo. Several of the other photos show them resting upside down on a table.
Condition
Good antique condition with wear. Each back panel has mounting holes, some drilled through the painted scenes, and there are small chips at the points and edges with a few spots of paint loss. The lacquer has scratches and scuffs, the shelves show surface wear and small holes, and the gold rims are rubbed in places. The hinges are present. They have not been weight tested, so they are best for light display pieces. Please see all photos.
Dimensions & Weight
Each shelf measures 12.2 x 9.8 x 0.3 inches when folded flat. The pair weighs 15.7 oz together.
Shipping
Free standard shipping within the US, packed securely.
