In the days before electric lighting, rooms were dim even during the day, so the light coming through a ranma with openwork carving, for example, produced a beautiful silhouette effect. There are many kinds of designs one can use to create this interplay of light and shadow, though these days rooms may be too bright for the creation of such silhouettes. One possibility is utilizing a ranma design as a bedside lamp shade. It is not necessary to use a wood carving for this; a motif of a flower or a bird, for example, cut into a piece of cardboard, framed, and illuminated from behind is just as effective. Similarly, you may want to make a Japanese-style lamp with a ranma pattern that you have designed yourself.
Portable Partitions
FOLDING SCREENS
There are several types of screens which can be set up and moved about with freedom, one example being the byobu. Made up of two or more fusuma-like screens joined together, it can stand independently, in a V or W shape, and is easily stored away when not in use. If the front and back are decorated with different colors and patterns, the byobu can be turned around every now and then for variety, and serve as a versatile room divider and decorative element.
Being portable, the lighter the screen is, the better. Like fusuma, it is made of a thin wooden grid frame covered on both sides with paper or cloth. A kind of paper honeycomb also makes a good frame. Fairly thin, long hinges are used at the joints of the panels, which are then covered with cloth or paper. A border is placed only on the outer perimeter of the whole screen, not around each separate panel. As mentioned earlier, sudare or yoshizu screens may be placed in an upright frame to make a gorgeous folding screen. Shoji may also be used with pleasing results.
The use of hinges permits folding screens to stand in-dependently in a V or W shape.
Screens may vary in height, number of panels, and kind of material used.
Folding screen used for the tea ceremony.
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