A striking mid-size six-panel byôbu 屏風 (folding screen) featuring six individual kakejiku 掛け軸 (hanging scroll paintings), each depicting a hawk 鷹 (taka) perched on a pole with a translucent silk drape hanging from the perch. Every bird is secured with decorative silk tethers. The hawks are rendered with sharp beaks, piercing eyes and long curved talons. Their focused expressions capture the strength and disciplined spirit for which these birds are admired. Hawks have long been symbols of martial virtue and elite status in Japan. Falconry was introduced from China around the 4th century and developed into a prestigious practice among the samurai class. By the Edo period it had become formalised to the point that the Shogunate appointed an official master falconer. From the late Muromachi period onward, paintings of falcons and prized hawks, valued for their solemn and commanding presence, grew increasingly popular. Executed in colours and ink on mulberry paper and mounted onto gold-toned textured paper, the paintings are set within a wooden frame. Period: Japan - paintings 19th century (Late Edo or Early Meiji period), mounted as a byôbu around the Taishô period (1912–1926). Dimensions: Total width 329.2 cm (2 × 56 cm, 4 × 54.3 cm). Height 132.8 cm. In good condition with general traces of age, wear and restorations, such as small surface scratches, minor paper losses and some discolouration. Please refer to the photos for a clear condition reference. The folding screen is ideal for mounting flat on a wall and displaying as a single work of art. When shipped we will include a certificate of authenticity.