This monumental uchishiki (altar offering cloth), dating to the late Edo period (1840–1868), possesses a profound ritual history. Measuring 66.9 inches in length by 57.4 inches in width (170 cm x 146 cm), the textile began its life as a ceremonial futonji (sleeping blanket cover) used in matrimonial celebrations. It was later repurposed as a sacred offering cloth dedicated to departed ancestors.

The panel is crafted from fine chirimen (crepe) silk and features a striking indigo ground decorated with a large paulownia (kiri) and phoenix motif. This design was rendered using the tsutsugaki technique, a traditional resist-dyeing method where paste is applied through a paper cone to create bold, hand-drawn patterns. In Japanese mythology, the phoenix is said to alight only upon the branches of the paulownia tree, making this combination a premier symbol of imperial authority, virtue, and auspicious beginnings. The resist-dyed areas remain a crisp white against the saturated indigo, with subtle hand-painted accents in soft pink and sage green adding life to the phoenix's plumage.

This artwork is featured on pages 58-59 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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