Conservators from the Asian Conservation Studio are currently in gallery 208 preparing a set of wooden undercores for two Japanese folding screens in need of new supports. East Asian paintings are generally made on fine and easily damaged materials, such as paper or silk. Various mounting formats, refined over centuries in China, Japan, and Korea, are used to protect and display the paintings safely. Rolled or flexible formats include hanging scrolls and hand scrolls. Other works would have been mounted in rigid panel formats as screens, doors, and framed paintings.

Building a Japanese Screen

For this project, wooden lattice undercores like the ones pictured above will be constructed from Japanese cedar. Eight layers of handmade Japanese paper will then be applied to the front and back of each panel. The panels will be hinged together with strong Japanese handmade papers so that the screens can be folded in both directions.

For the 16th century Japanese folding screen above, the wooden lattice core has several layers of paper pasted on both sides, providing a lightweight but strong and smooth surface that can support the artwork. Most Japanese screen mountings also include a decorative border of paper or fabric and a protective outer wooden trim.

Conservation

The proper support is essential for the well-being of the artwork. Over time, poor mounting can have a detrimental effect on the object, as can be seen below in this six-panel folding screen from the 19th century.

The screen came into the Museum’s collection in 1911 in an inadequately mounted state, perhaps hastily and inexpensively constructed. The poor quality wooden core, with too few layers of lining paper, began to distort and caused a darkening discoloration that spread to the painting. The painting has now been removed from the screen core to halt this damage, while it awaits the preparation of a new, strong, and stable screen core.

Conservation in Action

As work progresses, updates will be posted below.