A SILK-EMBROIDERED PANELProduced by the Iida Shinshichi House of Takashimaya, Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryWorked in the finest silk and metallic threads, inventively deploying long and short stitches, flat and twisted threads in various palettes (now faded) to depict a grove of flowering trees and plants on the shores of a lake, within the original art-nouveau gilt and wood glazed frame with brocade backing, inscribed on a blue-enamelled copper plate:S. Iida 'Takashimaya' Kyoto, Tokyo, Yokohama in Roman letters beside the mark of Takashimaya, fixed onto the middle top edge of the frame on its reverse side.Overall: 72.2cm x 93.5cm (28 3/8in x 36 5/8in); image: 46.5cm x 67cm (18¼in x 26 3/8in).