Not currently on display at the V&A

Fukusa (Gift Cover)

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Fukusa (gift cover), blue satin weave silk ground with design of three open fans in gold leaf. On one fan are three pine cones, on the second fan there is a rake, and on the third fan a besom. All these artefacts are associated with Jo and Uba the devoted old couple of Japanese legend. Each fan leaf is executed in the rubbed foil technique where gold leaf is applied over glue (surihaku).
Two of the fan leaves carry on to the reverse of the fukusa. The fan sticks are executed in black twisted cord laid down and couched to the satin. The pine cones are likewise made from brown twisted cord and they have been given a relief surface by the use of padding beneath the couching. The rake and besom are in wrapped gold foil, laid down and couched.
The fukusa is backed with red crepe, the edges of which are turned over to the front to make a border around the blue satin. Originally there was a tassel in each corner. Only one of these remains. There is a small paper sticker with an inscription on it stuck to the back of the cover's top right-hand corner.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Rubbed foil decoration (<i>surihaku</i>), twisted cord and wrapped gold foil decoration on a satin weave silk ground
Brief description
Fukusa (gift cover), blue satin weave silk with surihaku fan motifs and couched pinecone decoration, Japan, Edo to Meiji period, 19th century
Physical description
Fukusa (gift cover), blue satin weave silk ground with design of three open fans in gold leaf. On one fan are three pine cones, on the second fan there is a rake, and on the third fan a besom. All these artefacts are associated with Jo and Uba the devoted old couple of Japanese legend. Each fan leaf is executed in the rubbed foil technique where gold leaf is applied over glue (surihaku).
Two of the fan leaves carry on to the reverse of the fukusa. The fan sticks are executed in black twisted cord laid down and couched to the satin. The pine cones are likewise made from brown twisted cord and they have been given a relief surface by the use of padding beneath the couching. The rake and besom are in wrapped gold foil, laid down and couched.
The fukusa is backed with red crepe, the edges of which are turned over to the front to make a border around the blue satin. Originally there was a tassel in each corner. Only one of these remains. There is a small paper sticker with an inscription on it stuck to the back of the cover's top right-hand corner.
Dimensions
  • Length: 81cm
  • Width: 68cm
Styles
Object history
Purchased. Registered File number 1981/1201.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceJo and Uba
Bibliographic reference
Takemura, Akihiko. Fukusa: Japanese Gift Covers. Iwasaki Bijutsu-sha, Tokyo, 1991. Plate 19. ISBN 475341325X
Collection
Accession number
FE.37-1981

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest