Gift cover (fukusa). Japanese,Meiji era, late 19th century. 68 x 84.5cm (26 ¾ x 33 ¼
Gift cover (fukusa). Japanese,Meiji era, late 19th century. 68 x 84.5cm (26 ¾ x 33 ¼ in.). Silk; satin-weave ground with silk embroidery(shishû) and gold metallic thread couching (koma-nui). Gift cover (fukusa) withdesign of linked squares containing various auspicious symbols and patterns,including mandarin ducks, paired magpies, cranes, peonies phoenix and the shellgame, in red, green, pink, blue and white silk embroidery (shishû) and goldmetallic thread couching (koma-nui) on a dark blue silk satin ground;reddish-orange plain-weave silk backing. William Sturgis Bigelow Collection, MFA -- source link