Fukusa (Gift Cover)
1860 (made)
| Place of origin |
This textile cover is called a ‘fukusa’. Traditionally in Japan, gifts were placed in a box on a tray, over which a fukusa was draped. The choice of a fukusa appropriate to the occasion was an important part of the gift-giving ritual. The richness of the decoration was an indication of the donor’s wealth, while the quality of the design was evidence of his or her taste and sensibility. The motif of a cock, hen and three chicks symbolise a family living in harmony. The woven seals on the left are those of the famous painter Maruyama Ôkyo (1733-1795) which suggest this design was derived from one of his works. The complex and time-consuming technique of tapestry weave velvet - in which extra, different coloured pile warps create the pattern - was only used in Japan for a short period of time.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tapestry weave silk velvet (tsuzure birôdo) |
| Brief description | Fukusa (gift cover), tapestry-weave silk velvet, with decoration of cockerel, hen and three chicks, Japan, about 1860. Tex, Japan, velvet |
| Physical description | Fukusa (gift cover) of tapestry-weave silk velvet (tsuzure birôdo), a complex and time-consuming technique in which extra, different coloured, pile warps create the pattern. The design is of a cockerel, hen and chicks in muted tones of black, brown, blue and white. There are seals woven into the cover on the left, and the border contains paulownia motifs. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Purchased from Londos & Co., accessioned in 1880. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Summary | This textile cover is called a ‘fukusa’. Traditionally in Japan, gifts were placed in a box on a tray, over which a fukusa was draped. The choice of a fukusa appropriate to the occasion was an important part of the gift-giving ritual. The richness of the decoration was an indication of the donor’s wealth, while the quality of the design was evidence of his or her taste and sensibility. The motif of a cock, hen and three chicks symbolise a family living in harmony. The woven seals on the left are those of the famous painter Maruyama Ôkyo (1733-1795) which suggest this design was derived from one of his works. The complex and time-consuming technique of tapestry weave velvet - in which extra, different coloured pile warps create the pattern - was only used in Japan for a short period of time. |
| Bibliographic reference | Miller, Lesley Ellis, and Ana Cabrera Lafuente, with Claire Allen-Johnstone, eds. Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2021. ISBN 978-0-500-48065-6.
This object features in the publication Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion (2021) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 361-1880 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 24, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
