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Embroidered Silk Fukusa with Ho-o Bird browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese:Textiles: Pre 1920: item # 81413 Please refer to our stock # 12-104A11 when inquiring.
B & C Antiques P. O. Box 291 Derby, CT 06418 203-929-7312 Guest Book $650 |
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Striking silk fukusa (Japanese gift cover) with a cream-colored ho-o bird (phoenix) on a brilliant red ground. Taisho period. As the phoenix joyfully spreads its wings, its long tail feathers arc to form a crest around a cluster of the distinctively-shaped green leaves and purple flowers of the paulownia tree. Delicate white silk thread embroidery highlights the bird’s feathers. Couched gold threads outline the bird’s head, flowers, and leaves – as well as filling in portions of the tail feathers. The off-white reverse side has red pine branches on an off-white and orange ground. Fukusa are elaborate gift covers introduced during the early Edo period in Japan. The usual form is a large silk square with tassels lined with a contrasting colored silk fabric. They were simply placed over the gift for the delight they might engender in a sophisticated and educated person. They were duly admired by the recipient and then returned. In Japan, the ho-o bird came to be a symbol of imperial authority, frequently combining with other motifs, especially the paulownia, that enjoyed similar status. Tradition holds that the paulownia is the only tree on which the legendary phoenix alights. Represented with the body of a pheasant and the tail feathers of a peacock, the ho-o bird signifies uprightness, humility, honesty and sincerity. Ho-o were said to mate for life and so served as a beautiful motif for fukusa given to young brides. CONDITION is excellent. DIMENSIONS: 24” (60.5 cm) x 26 ½” (67.3 cm). |
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