This superior yuzen-dyed silk fukusa (gift cover), dating to the early to mid-Meiji period (1868–1900), serves as a nostalgic tribute to the "Golden Age" of Japanese history. Measuring 20 inches by 22 inches (51 cm x 56 cm), the cloth features a cream-colored silk ground adorned with two Heian-period courtiers and a young attendant.

The figures are rendered with exquisite detail, wearing the opulent, voluminous layered costumes characteristic of the Heian period (9th–12th centuries). These courtiers are shown with the "puffy" facial features admired during that era and wear tall eboshi caps made of stiffened black silk gauze. The yuzen dyeing is accented by fine embroidery highlights, particularly in the tiny flowers scattered across the garments and the landscape. During the Meiji period, such imagery celebrated the sophisticated aesthetic sensibilities—poetry, music, and seasonal color coordination—that defined the ancient Kyoto aristocracy. The textile remains in very good condition, complete with its original four corner tassels.

This artwork is featured on pages 156-157 of Ceremonial Textiles of Japan, 18th to 20th Centuries. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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