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Subject:3 geisha panel art
Posted By: Chris Tue, Nov 15, 2016 IP: 75.174.4.187

I have tried searching google etc but cant seem to find anything like what I have. I'm looking for help on what I have. I was given these about 20 years ago and they look very old but do not have any markings or artist signature of any kind. They are hand painted on wood and the paint is showing age cracks, the geishas and other objects appear to be some kind of colored acrylic.
Thanks,







Subject:Re: 3 geisha panel art
Posted By: Bill H Thu, Nov 17, 2016

This screen, possibly meant for wall display, appears to be consistent with what often was stocked in American Military Exchange Stores on Bases around Asia during the Vietnam War, or circa the third quarter of the 20th century. They also were available on the streets of Hong Kong, Taipei and Bangkok, among other Asian cities.

These were popular items in their day, but as appears to be the case with yours, their wood tended to shrink in air-conditioned Western homes, causing the lacquer surface to crack. The figural decoration that you describe as possibly "colored acrylic" might have been cast in a resinous material to simulate carved colored stone.

Since the possessions of Vietnam veterans are well into their turn on the estate liquidation market, items like this are fairly common and cheap at sales.

Here are a couple of discouraging results found on liveauctioneers.com, but since I had to guess at the size, you might want to give that venue another shot.

US$40.00:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/47440176_chinese-black-lacquer-and-hardstone-table-screen

LOT PASSED:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3294208_chinese-wood-and-lacquer-three-panel-screen

Best regards,

Bill H.


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