紅縮緬地鳳凰桜牡丹楓折枝模様振袖|Long-Sleeved Robe (Furisode) with Phoenixes, Cherry Blossoms, Peonies, and Maple Branches

About this artwork

This long-sleeved robe, or furisode, displays phoenixes, cherry blossoms, peonies, and maple branches in elaborate embroidery, created in mid-19th century Japan during the late Edo period. The garment features a red crepe silk ground decorated with multicolored silk and gold-thread embroidery depicting auspicious motifs drawn from nature and mythology. The phoenixes symbolize virtue and grace, while cherry blossoms represent transience, peonies signify wealth and honor, and maple leaves evoke au...

Art Historical Context

This stunning *furisode*, or long-sleeved robe from mid-19th-century Japan the late Edo period (1615–1868), exemplifies the era's pinnacle of textile artistry. Crafted from red crepe silk and adorned with intricate multicolored silk and gold-thread, the garment measures an impressive 68 × inches, designed to drape elegantly on unmarried women. The trailing sleeves signaled youthful eligibility for marriage, while the lavish decoration showcased family wealth and refined taste, transforming clothing into a canvas of wearable art. The embroidery bursts with auspicious motifs: majestic phoenixe...