About This Artwork

Japan

Fukusa (Gift Cover), Late Meiji period (1868–1912), 1900/12

Woven in one piece (hikikaeshi); Mon side: silk, plain weave (shioze); dye extracted using chemical dye stripper; (bassen); stenciled (utsushinori yûzenzome and shigokizome); painted with India ink (sumi); embroidered with silk-gold-leaf-over-lacquered-on-paper-strip-wrapped silk in surface satin and straight stitches; laidwork, couching and silk padded couching; Patterned side: silk, plain weave (shioze); stenciled (utsushinori yûzenzome) and possible painted with India ink (sumi); embroidered with silk and gold-leaf-on-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped silk in Chinese knots, satin, silk padded satin, surface satin, stem and straight stitches; laidwork and couching
74.9 x 69.8 cm (29 1/2 x 27 1/2 in.)
Gift of Mary V. and Ralph E. Hays, 2001.224

Exhibition, Publication and Ownership Histories

Exhibition History

The Art Institute of Chicago, The 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: January 1973. Mrs. M. Lystad, Washington, D.C.