Early 20th Century Meiji Period Japanese Silk Embroidery Tapestry

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A spectacular Japanese embroidered silk panel beautifully presented in a gilt frame suspended in a lucite shadow box with gilt … Read more A spectacular Japanese embroidered silk panel beautifully presented in a gilt frame suspended in a lucite shadow box with gilt wood border. The silk picture is dated to 1890-1910s toward the end of Meiji Period, when Japanese started to participate international expose by presenting its best art and craft. Elaborate embroidered silk tapestry like this was very popular among westerners due to its superb craftmanship and also exotic subject matter that was often derived from classic Japanese folklore, mythology and various motifs. The tapestry on offer is such an example. It depicts an old couple around a huge jar with a little boy on it, a rice bowl is tossed on the side. The setting is rural and idyllic, under knotted pines among the mountains. The imagery likely alludes to the Japanese mythological story of Issun-Bōshi, the one-inch boy, who was born to an old couple and decided to leave to see the world on a rice bowl flowing down the river. All around them, cranes (symbol of longevity) fly around and a large open fan with flowing tassels suspended in the sky, surrounded by auspicious clouds and butterflies. The composition is very dense and nearly all embroidery techniques were employed to showcase the high skills of the artisan.
The panel is well preserved by being presented in a frame within shadow box composition. It is quite heavy. See less