Fukusa (Gift Cover)
late Edo period (1789–1868)/ Meiji period (1868–1912), 19th century
Medium
Mon side: silk, plain weave with “crepe-like” effect (kabe-ito wefts) (kabe-ori); dye extracted through stenciled chemical dye stripper (bassen); impressed; patterned side: silk and silver-and-gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper strip wrapped cotton, slit tapestry weave; silk, running “controlling” stitches; corners: silk, tubular 1:1 oblique interlacing over cotton core, knotted; silk-wrapped wood form and re-plied silk, fringe tassels
Dimensions
73.7 × 65.8 cm (29 × 25 7/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
183452
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...