This striking futonji (bedding cover), dating to the late Meiji period (1880–1912), is a masterful example of tsutsugaki, a traditional Japanese rice-paste resist dyeing technique. Measuring 51 inches by 63 inches (130 cm x 160 cm), the textile is composed of four panels of hand-spun and hand-woven cotton, dyed a deep, saturated indigo.

The central motif is a large, bold mulberry leaf crest (kaji-mon), rendered in the natural white of the cotton. In ancient Japan, the mulberry held profound sacred significance; its leaves were used to hold offerings at Shinto shrines, and its bark was woven into ritual clothing. Surrounding the central crest are dynamic, flowing karakusa (scrolling vine) patterns, which symbolize eternity and the prosperity of a family lineage. These vines are accented with light blue, achieved through a careful secondary dyeing process. The piece is in very good condition, though it bears several tiny holes and minor stains that attest to its history and utilitarian origins.

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