This elegant hand-painted artwork is an original creation from Japan, dating to the second half of the 19th century. Measuring 11 inches by 12 inches (27.94 cm x 30.48 cm), this piece is rendered in delicate watercolor and ink on paper. This artwork is a quintessential example of Meiji-period still-life painting, documenting a formal interior arrangement likely found in a high-ranking household or tea room. While the paper bears a visible bookworm long hole—an authentic sign of its long-term storage in a traditional Japanese archive—the fine pigments and detail remain beautifully intact.
The composition features a sophisticated vase (hanabashi) of celadon-blue glaze, decorated with white floral scrolling and perched upon a dark wooden stand. The vase holds a lush arrangement of pink chrysanthemums and slender grasses. Beside the vase lies an open ceremonial fan (sensu) decorated with a soaring crane, its bright red ribbons curling across the floor. In the background, a bamboo blind (sudare) with decorative metal fittings and red silk tassels is partially visible, suggesting a summer setting. The artist utilized fine, precise ink lines for the architectural elements and fan, contrasted with soft, translucent washes for the petals and ribbons, capturing a moment of refined tranquility.