furosaki byōbu 風炉先屏風

Keywords
Architecture
Tea Houses

Sometimes abbreviated to furosaki 風炉先. A partition used in a tea ceremony room *chashitsu 茶室. A low two-leaf folding screen *byōbu 屏風 used at the edge of the host's mat *temae datami 点前畳 in a large tearoom. Often approximately 60 cm high and 85 cm wide. Often separates the host's mat from the guest's area, *kyakuza 客座. Originally used as a windbreak for the portable brazier, *furo 風炉, but also acquired an important decorative function, and served to divide the space within the room. Many materials and decorative designs were used: Sen no Rikyū 千利休 (1522-91) favored a black lacquered shinnuri 真塗, frame with white paper, *torinoko 鳥の子, pasted on it. Painting, calligraphy, and gold leaf were then applied to the outer surface. Furosaki byōbu of carved wood and ditch-reed were sometimes used in summer, while others were of green bamboo.