COMING SOON - FEEL FREE TO MAKE AN OFFER

Maker: Attributed to Mori Shū (森秀), a traditional Japanese sumi-e artist from the late Edo to early Meiji period, known for nature-inspired landscapes. Signature reads "森秀房像" (Mori Shū Bōzō) with artist's red hanko seal for authenticity. Likely a regional or studio artist in the Nanga (literati) tradition, evoking the style of masters like Sesshū Tōyō.

Age: Late 19th to early 20th century (Meiji/Taisho era, circa 1880-1920), based on stylistic elements, silk medium, and export framing typical of Japan's opening to the West.

Original/Reproduction: Original hand-painted artwork (not a reproduction or print; evident from fluid ink gradients and brushwork variations).

Color: Monochrome with subtle gray tones from diluted black ink washes; beige/tan silk background; gold and cream floral brocade border.

Material: Ink on silk; mounted in a bamboo-style gilt wood frame with ornate brocade silk mat (damask floral pattern); simple brown paper backing.

Style: Sumi-e (Japanese ink wash painting) in the Nanga/Bunjinga literati tradition; Zen-inspired minimalism with atmospheric mist, emphasizing harmony with nature and impermanence (mono no aware). Vertical hanging scroll format, reminiscent of classical Muromachi influences adapted for Meiji export.

Condition Description: Good vintage condition for age; minor foxing (age spots) on silk from natural patina; no tears, fading, or damage to paintings; frames shows light wear and patina on gold leaf with intact bamboo accents; suitable for display with conservation. 

Detailed Description: These paintings are a complete set of four authentic Meiji-era (ca. 1880–1920) Japanese sumi-e (ink wash) landscape paintings attributed to the artist Mori Shū (森秀), executed in the Nanga (literati) tradition. Each features subtle monochrome ink on silk, with motifs evoking seasonal changes: misty mountains and blooming trees for spring, lush greenery and streams for summer, autumn foliage, and winter snow and barren branches for the fourth. The matched ornate bamboo-gilt frames with floral brocade borders, identical signatures ("森秀房像" with red hanko seals), and vertical format make them ideal as a diptych-turned-tetradych set titled "The Four Seasons," a highly desirable theme in Japanese art symbolizing harmony, impermanence (mono no aware), and Zen aesthetics. This thematic unity, common in classical works like Sesshū Tōyō's Landscape of the Four Seasons (c. 1486, museum-valued in the millions but not directly comparable), would appeal to collectors of export-era decorative art.