Framed Japanese Antique Embroidery Sennin Tapestry Meiji Period

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A stunning Japanese embroidery tapestry circa 1880s-1900s from late Meiji period, presented with an original wood frame with inner gold … Read more A stunning Japanese embroidery tapestry circa 1880s-1900s from late Meiji period, presented with an original wood frame with inner gold trim. The tour-de-force embroidered tapestry showcases a dramatic pictorial in which Tekkai Sennin intertwines with a slithering dragon in the air and releases swirl spirit wind from his bottle. This scenery alludes to a deity adapted in Japan from the Chinese prototype called Li Tieguai. Literally translated as Li the Iron Crutch, he was one of the eight immortals in Chinese Taoism folklore. He is often depicted as a limp and disheveled old man walking on a crush and holding a Calabash gourd. In both Chinese and Japanese culture, he was beloved and worshipped due to his compassion for the poor and the sick as he used the medicine in his bottle to alleviate the pain of the diseased. In Japanese art, he was often depicted with holding his gourd bottle, from which a tornado like vapor emanates. The swirl clouds represent his own soul. Many paintings of such subject manner can be found in museum collections around the world.
The tapestry on offer was entirely hand-embroidered and the superb craftsmanship is evident with the first glimpse. The composition is striking and was painstakingly executed by the unknown artisans. The high relief effect, created by meticulous techniques such as satin stiches, couching and piling with layers of gold and silver wrapped threads, displays a harmonious composition while conveying a livid sense of motion (especially the swirling clouds). The attention to details was rather meticulous, down to the rendition of the background thatch houses, landscapes, trees by the stream, and the little medallions in the sky. It also appears that it was kept in very good condition under the frame. All these factors set the piece apart as a highly collectible textile art.
Japanese textiles from Meiji period were widely exhibited in the west during turn of the 20th century at the international expositions. It was used to showcase the Japanese aesthetics with the techniques at their pinnacle. These expositions solidified the country's images overseas and fueled the Japonisme craze in the west, which turned out to be a long-lasting influence on the western art. Many pieces were purchased and stayed in the west. It is likely this estate piece was from one of the expositions based on its high quality. Remanent of a paper label on the back as shown.
Japanese figurative embroidery tapestries are relatively less common. For a tapestry of Kari Sonja, see "Threads of silk and gold ornamental textile from Meiji Japan Ashmolean", page 97.
A tapestry of that depicts Badara Sonja see "Re-envisioning Japan Meiji Fine Art Textile, John E. Vollmer", page 90.
For detailed terminology of embroidery techniques used in this work, please refer to threads of silk and gold ornamental textile from Meiji Japan Ashmolean page 86-87. See less