This elegant silk fukusa (gift cover), dating to the Edo period (1800–1840), showcases the refined aesthetic of the Japanese aristocracy. Measuring 27 inches by 33 inches (69 cm x 84 cm), the textile is adorned with sophisticated embroidery depicting kaioke—ornate octagonal containers used for storing clam shells.

These vessels were central to kai-awase, a popular "shell-matching" game among the nobility. Because each clam shell has a unique shape that fits only with its original mate, the game became a poignant symbol of marital fidelity and the search for a perfect life partner. The kaioke depicted here are intricately detailed with gold metallic thread and colored silk, featuring auspicious motifs of pine, plum blossoms, and cranes. While the embroidery itself is remarkably well-preserved, the blue silk background shows signs of its age, including darkened patches and several areas of silk splitting.

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