Fukusa (Gift Cover)
second half 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| 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 motifs on this gift cover represent the 'Gosekku', the five seasonal festivals. The lobsters indicate the New Year, the peach blossoms represent the festival held on March 3rd, the iris and mugwort that of May 5th, the kemeri ball--used in a court game--and the paper mulberry leaves that of July 7th and the chrysanthemums that of September 9th. The ribbon-like bundle is a noshi, an ornament originally made from strips of dried abalone, which is traditionally tied to goodwill gifts.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Embroidered silk in silk and metallic thread, painted, paste-resist (yuzen) |
| Brief description | Embroidered silk cover in silk and metallic thread, Japan, second half of 19th century |
| Physical description | Gift cover (Fukusa) of silk with paste-resist decoration (yuzen) and embroidered in metallic thread. With decoration of the five seasonal festivals. The panel has a slate blue silk ground painted with a design of two crayfish, bands of material or ribbon tied together, and chrysanthemums. The ribbons are outlined in gold thread couched on to the material. The crayfish have eyes embroidered in black and white silk in satin stitch. A knot of couched gold and silver thread ties the ribbons together. There are leaves, reeds and various flowers in other parts of the design, and some details are brocaded with gold thread. |
| Dimensions |
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| 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 motifs on this gift cover represent the 'Gosekku', the five seasonal festivals. The lobsters indicate the New Year, the peach blossoms represent the festival held on March 3rd, the iris and mugwort that of May 5th, the kemeri ball--used in a court game--and the paper mulberry leaves that of July 7th and the chrysanthemums that of September 9th. The ribbon-like bundle is a noshi, an ornament originally made from strips of dried abalone, which is traditionally tied to goodwill gifts. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.260-1959 |
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| Record created | February 22, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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