19th Century Japanese Silk Embroidery Fukusa
£3,200 per item
Shopping at Vinterior
- 14 days return guarantee
- Outstanding customer service
- Secure payment
- Verified sellers
- Trees planted for every order
- Price match guarantee
for your next pre-owned find?
Item details
Height
132.0 cm
Width
132.0 cm
Wear conditions
Good
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Description
Very rare 19th century Japanese red silk Fukusa. 132cm/52 inch square.
An exceptionally decorative and well preserved piece. The central crane is beautifully drawn and executed; rendered in monotone silk, it's form delineated purely by the array of different stitches used to represent the back, wing and tail feathers. Surrounded by an asymmetric array of chrysanthemums, their green leaves (with an ombre effect executed with astonishing skill) provide a striking contrast against the deep red.
Very few examples of red silk embroideries from this period now exist. The red dye, probably Benibana, derived from safflower petals is extremely costly to produce and, being a fugitive dye, is prone to colour changes and degradation. This is a luxurious item, made for the very top end of the export market and a rare survivor.
Overall condition is excellent, the silk ground is clean and bright with extremely strong, consistent colour throughout. There is some fading and wear to the bottom edge. The silk has worn through in a few small areas along the bottom edge, we have had these professionally conserved (a section of colour matched silk is placed behind the damage to stop further degradation, and the remaining silk fibres are bound with invisible thread). There is a small section of braiding missing at the bottom right corner, around 10cm. The embroidery throughout is clean, bright and without any loss of colour. There is one loose thread that we have seen (at bottom right, on a flower stem) and some of the embroidery on the birds back is not as tight to the ground as it would have been new, but there are no losses or pulled threads. We have had a colour matched silk pole sleeve attached for hanging, otherwise in original condition.
About Fukusa:
These textiles were originally used in the ritual of gift giving, the gift being draped with the fukusa, admired then returned to the donor. These traditional fukusa were made from the standard 38cm bolts of silk used in the production of kimono. Following the Vienna Worlds Fair, (1873) which introduced fukusa to the western world, the Kyoto silk merchants set about adapting their infrastructure to accommodate the new demand for larger silks to be displayed in the homes of wealthy europeans. Initially these larger pieces were made from two or more pieces of silk stitched together, before larger looms and wider bolts of silk could be produced. This piece has been made from one large and one smaller section to form the ground, suggesting it is an early export. We would tentatively date around 1880. Much larger pieces were being produced from a single silk ground towards the end of the century.
UK Mainland shipping is £15 by standard parcel courier. Please contact for international shipping price
Cancellations
We offer free cancellations and full refund for orders cancelled before dispatching. View full policy.
Returns
We have a 14 days returns guarantee for orders within the UK and European Union. View full policy.
Estimated delivery time
Less than one week
Free collection available
Yes
Similar Other Textiles
Similar Other Textiles
Choose a Wish List
Create Wish List
- Selling at Vinterior since 2019
- 14 sales
- Ships from Sheffield, United Kingdom
Seller Reviews
Cancellations and Returns
Our Terms of sale were designed to treat both Customers and Vendors (including Professional Vendors and Non-Professional Vendors (as defined in the Site Terms)) fairly, in order to make the shopping/selling experience with Vinterior just as exceptional as the items.
We've extended our usual return period for the holidays. Any purchases made in December 2023 on gifting items can be returned up until 31 January 2024.
To protect our Customers from disappointment or the unexpected, we strongly encourage them to closely inspect item photos, descriptions, and details before purchasing anything on the Site, and then again upon delivery or pickup.
If the Customer is unsure about an item's condition, dimensions, quantity, or description, they can send their questions to the item’s Vendor by clicking on Ask the seller on the listing page of the Site.
Customers shall receive the same level of consumer protection on purchases irrespective of whether they are buying from a Professional Vendor or Non-Professional Vendor.
Should you have any questions regarding your transaction, please contact the Vendor in the first instance.
Can I cancel an order?
If a Customer changes their mind or decides for any other reason that they do not want to purchase the Goods before the Goods have been dispatched, they can cancel the order on the Site and receive a refund.
The right to cancel does not apply to the following types of Goods, which are non-refundable: items that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to the customer’s specific requirements. If in doubt, the Customer can contact the Vendor via the Site.
If the Customer cancels an order after an item has already been marked as dispatched for delivery, the costs of delivery are non-refundable.
To cancel the order, the Customer must follow the cancellation procedure on the Site by clicking on Create Cancellation on the order page.
Can I return an item?
Consumers based in the UK and European Union can request to return the Goods on Vinterior up to 14 days after the Goods have been received. Once accepted, the buyer is in charge of the shipment and should organise it as soon as possible (except in the case of a return of faulty Goods).
To initiate a return, the Customer must click on Create a return on the order page on the Site. In the return request, the reason for the return must be included along with photos of any damage of the Goods, if faulty.
As with cancellations, the right to return an item does not apply to the following types of Goods, which are non-refundable: items that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to the Customer’s specific requirements.
Additionally, the Customer may not return an item for "inaccurate listing” reason when its dimensions or other characteristics do not fit its requirements. We strongly recommend that buyer measures all access areas prior to making a purchase.
If in doubt, the Customer can contact the Vendor via the Site.
In case of a return, the costs of delivery (i.e., outbound delivery costs when Goods are sent from the Vendor to a Customer) are non-refundable.
The Customer is responsible for organising the return of Goods and for paying delivery costs. Once the item is returned to the Vendor in the same condition, the Vendor will confirm receipt and refund the Customer. If an item is returned to the seller damaged, or in an unsuitable condition, Vinterior will not be able to process the refund and the seller may have to send it back to you (and ask you to cover the delivery costs). All items are inspected on return.
Acting under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, customers may return faulty Goods that are damaged in transportation or the listing on the Site is materially inaccurate, misleading, or misrepresents the Goods. In these cases, the Customer must provide photographic evidence to Vinterior and the Vendor or reject the delivery on arrival.
In case of damage in transit for all items, Vinterior must be informed. Vinterior will then raise an insurance claim on behalf the Vendor with delivery company Proovia. Once the claim is resolved and any relevant decision regarding the insurance has been made, any applicable refunds will be processed.
Please note that vintage items are not sold as new and are likely to show signs of wear and tear. This is not sufficient grounds for a refund.
Vendors may refuse a return of an item if it has been altered by the Customer in any way.
Neither Vinterior nor the Vendors are liable for any damages or loss sustained in transit via third parties.
Price match guarantee
If you find the same item listed at a lower price (including delivery) elsewhere, we'll match it for you.
For further policy details click here.
Why buy on Vinterior?
- 14-day return guarantee
- Top customer service
- 100% secure payment
How it works
- Send a screenshot of the item from the other website with date and time visible.
- Send us the link of the item on Vinterior and on the other website.
- We'll check that it's the same item from the same seller.
- If eligible, Vinterior matches the price.
Successfully added to cart
0 items
Log in or register to continue
Make an offer
Item price: £4,000 £3,200