Fine Japanese Embroidery Silk Fukusa Kabuki Story Meiji Period

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A Japanese silk embroidery Fukusa panel circa 1890-1910s toward the end of Meiji Period. The spectacular needlework on this piece … Read more A Japanese silk embroidery Fukusa panel circa 1890-1910s toward the end of Meiji Period. The spectacular needlework on this piece is a tour-de-force showcasing a scene from Kabuki theater with the finest techniques and workmanship. On the deep blue satin background, the artist created a complex composition with a fully armored old samurai holding a baby against his chest. A female warrior (known as Onna-Musha in Japanese), also armored, holding a long bow and arrows is at his back. They appear to be traveling through a mountainous landscape with pine groves, dotted with castles and towns (suggested by the white fences and a torii gate).
The Kabuki story of a samurai carrying an infant was about a masterless ronin, an assassin for the shogun, travelled with his infant son to escape his enemies. The story inspired the creation of character Ogami Itto in the 1972 film Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance, which later became a six-part series. A print created by Yoshitaki (1841 - 1899), whose Osaka-school work was known to focus on actors of Kabuki theater, showed a very similar theme (last pic).
The workmanship of this Fukusa is at the finest level. Complex techniques involving variations of couched and chain stitches, padding, satin (long and short) stitches were all employed. The masterly needlework is evident in the even smallest details. The wide range of colored threads, in addition to gold, to create the vivid imagery was also quite astounding. The color remains very bright and vibrant.
The panel was lined with interior hemp support and has a thin red raw silk border all around as well as for the backing. It is unframed.
Fukusa panel was traditionally used as wrapping cloth for the gift presented on the important occasions such as weddings. They tend to be textile art form on their own and often showcase elaborate needlework, Yuzen dye and painting. See less