This vibrant hand-painted watercolor is an original and distinctive artwork from Japan, dating to the late Taisho to early Showa period (1920–1940). Created by a professional textile artist, this piece served as a precise design template for the yuzen resist-dyeing technique, a method celebrated for its ability to produce painterly, multi-colored imagery on silk kimono. Measuring 9 inches by 17 inches (23 cm x 43 cm), the work remains in very good condition, showcasing the bold color palettes and graphic sensibilities of early 20th-century Japanese design.

The composition features a majestic phoenix (ho-o) amidst a lush arrangement of grapevines and flowers. The phoenix is rendered with stylized, overlapping scales in ochre and cream, its wings outstretched to show intricate feather detailing in white and dark chocolate tones. Below the bird, a large, sun-like flower with radiating petals anchors the scene, accompanied by clusters of grapes in varied shades of amber and dark ink. Stylized leaves in sage green, deep plum, and golden-yellow swirl across the mint-green ground, connected by fluid, arching blue vines. Every element is defined by crisp, white outlines, a technical necessity for the yuzen artisan to ensure clear separation of dyes.

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