Larger fukusa: 71.6 x 68.0 cm,
Object size: Please refer to parts
In Japan, the practice of formally presenting gifts with silk covers called fukusa began in the Edo period (1603–1868), around the late 17th or early 18th century. These covers were draped or folded over gifts for a variety of occasions, from seasonal festivities to important personal events. Each fukusa was carefully chosen to evoke the circumstance of the gift and to convey a message to the recipient through its design. Fukusa designs often feature symbolic objects or allusions to Japanese and Chinese stories. The choice of fukusa also reflected the giver’s wealth, taste, erudition, and cultural sensitivity. The use of fukusa continued into the early 20th century. Today, they are used in parts of Japan for weddings and corporate events. During the Edo and Meiji periods, small tablescapes (shimadai) containing plants and figurines were often used in wedding ceremonies. Each fukusa looks and feels like it is decorated with opulent all-over kanoko shibori (“fawn spot tie dye”) – the texture is rippled, and each dot features a central “eye.” However, close inspection reveals that they were entirely woven and constructed in the hikikaeshi style. This exact shimadai design is found in late nineteenth and early twentieth century pattern books for fukusa and made in a variety of sizes. These characteristics suggest that the fukusa were produced in large quantities, likely with the aid of machinery.
