This vibrant textile originates from Japan’s Showa period (1940–1960) and is a scholarly example of the bold, celebratory aesthetic that defined mid-century formal silk production. Measuring 14 inches by 64 inches (36 cm x 163 cm), the panel is crafted from high-quality rinzu (silk damask), which possesses a soft, shimmery texture and offers a fantastic drape. The piece remains in excellent condition, preserving the saturated intensity of its original dyes.
The visual narrative is set against a vibrant red-orange ground, featuring a sophisticated woven fan pattern (sensu) within the damask substrate that creates a rhythmic, architectural foundation. Overlaid upon this field is a dense, all-over arrangement of hand-painted ume (plum blossoms) rendered in a bold palette of golden yellow and medium forest or sage green. The plum blossom is a traditional symbol of resilience and the arrival of spring, and its execution here—with high-contrast pigments against the figured silk—reflects the era's unique fusion of classical botanical themes and modern graphic energy.