This three-dimensional uchishiki (Buddhist altar cloth) from Japan dates to the mid-Showa period (1960–1980). Measuring 30 inches by 19 inches (76 cm x 48 cm), the textile is crafted from a gold-toned rayon ground with a white silk damask top border. While its bold, high-contrast aesthetic is often considered "gaudy" by Western standards, it represents a masterful example of the theatricality found in later temple textiles.

The central imagery features a dynamic confrontation between a dragon and a tiger, symbols of the two greatest forces of the universe in Buddhist philosophy. The figures are rendered in heavy, couched embroidery using metallic gold and silver threads. The execution is remarkably sculptural, with the embroidery protruding approximately one inch from the background cloth to create a high-relief effect. The dragon's mane and whiskers incorporate long, wispy fibers for added realism, while its scales and the tiger's stripes are defined by contrasting charcoal and purple silk threads. The piece is in excellent condition.

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