About This Artwork

Japan

Fukusa (Gift Cover), early Meiji period (1868–1912), 1868/83

Woven in one piece (hikikaeshi); Mon side: silk, twill weave self-patterned by areas of plain interlacing; dye extracted through stenciled chemical dye stripper (bassen), stenciled with dyes and gold leaf (yûzenzome;suri yûzenzome), painted with India ink (sumi) and dye details; embroidered with silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip wrapped cotton, couching; Patterned side: silk, plain weave (shioze); stenciled (yûzenzome: suri yûzenzome and otoshizome) and painted India ink (sumi) and gold; embroidered with silk and gold-leaf-on-lacquered-paper-strip wrapped silk in straight stitches; laidwork and couching; silk, running "controlling" stitches along edges; corners: silk and cotton, wrapped and knotted re-piled fringe tassels
74.5 x 64.5 cm (29 3/8 x 25 3/8 in.)
Gift of Mary V. and Ralph E. Hays, 2001.220

Exhibition, Publication and Ownership Histories

Exhibition History

The Art Institute of Chicago, Elizabeth F. Cheney and Agnes Allerton Textile Galleries, "Fukusa and Furoshiki: Splendid Japanese Gift Covers and Wrapping Cloths," July 17–November 17, 2002

Ownership History

Acquired by Hays: April 10, 1979. Winnie Dahl, Oaklnad, Ca. and Kyoto.