This rare oshie zaiku, crafted in the 19th year of the Meiji period (1886), is a masterful example of Japanese padded textile relief. Measuring approximately 11.5 inches by 15.5 inches (29 cm x 39 cm) and housed in its original pine box frame, the piece uses the oshie technique to create a three-dimensional "painting" from silk.
The composition features a majestic long-tailed bird perched upon a gnarled branch of ume (plum blossoms), with a vibrant red rose at the base. Each element is meticulously constructed from chirimen (silk crepe), with individual padded sections providing a lifelike volume to the bird's plumage and the delicate white flower petals. In the upper right corner, a small fan-shaped appliqué bears calligraphic inscriptions, adding a literary dimension to the scene. Despite being 140 years old, the textile work remains in very good condition, with the colors of the silk remaining remarkably vivid.