About This Artwork

Japan

Fukusa (Gift Cover), Late Meiji/early Taishô period, 1900/26

Patterned side: silk, warp-float faced 4:1 satin weave with self-patterning ground wefts; embroidered with silk, silver-leaf-
over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip wrapped silk and wrapped cotton in Chinese knots, satin, paper-wrapped cotton padded satin and stem stitches; laid work and couching; lined with silk, plain weave with "crepe-like" wefts (kabe-ito wefts) (kabe-ori or kabe chirimen); (possibly dyed with safflower (benibana); sewn with front and lining matched in size (Tachidkiri awase)
70.7 x 65.3 cm (27 7/8 x 25 3/4 in.)
Gift of Mary V. and Ralph E. Hays, 2001.226

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: February 5, 1983. G. T. March & Co., San Francisco. #7050.