Almost square fukusa or ceremonial gift cover, decorated with a hand-painted (yuzen dye-technique) scene around a pavilion in early spring, possibly related to chapter 23 in Tale of Genji, with hand-stitched red silk and gold embroidered details.
Noble men and women on the porch and in the garden of the house. Pine tree and blooming plum trees and a small stream near the house, a wider river in the background.
The back of the fukusa is red silk jacquard, with auspicious symbols: cranes, chrysanthemums, shippo and peonies.
Silk tassels.
Japan, Meiji era, probably around 1900.
H 26.4 x W 25 inches.
One tassel missing, faint soiling and dark spot, faint creasing, and folding lines, otherwise very good condition.
The woman in the far background is gathering pine seedlings, a New Year's activity. New Year in the time of Genji was on the first day of spring, in our month of February.
