Object size: 114.0 x 98.0 cm (with tassels)
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 important birthdays, an elderly man might have created or commissioned his own fukusa design. This example is adapted from a painting of a pine tree and retains the artist’s seals, and inscription (雄川法橋丘甫寫). The texture and dynamism of each brushstroke is echoed through carefully laid down gold threads. Evergreen pine trees represent longevity and were fitting for celebrations of old age.
