Fukusa (Gift Cover)
late Edo period (1789–1868), early 19th century
Medium
Patterned side: silk, warp-float faced 4:1 satin weave (shusu); embroidered with silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip wrapped silk in Chinese knot, satin, single satin, surface satin, stem and straight stitches; paper-strip wrapped cotton padded satin stitches; laidwork and couching; painted India ink (sumi) details Lined (re-lined) with silk, plain weave with creped wefts (chirimen); interlined with cotton; plain weave; padded with waste silk Sewn with padded lining extending beyond front at center on all four side (Yatsuzuma); silk, running "controlling" stitches along edges
Dimensions
71.5 × 65.8 cm (28 1/8 × 25 7/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
157666
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...