{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O77699"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77699/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7764/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7764/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM7764","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EU7524","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HG0556","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022NH5009","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O77699/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O77699","accessionNumber":"701-1868","objectType":"Fukusa (gift cover)","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This Japanese textile is a <i>fukusa</i> or gift cover. In the Edo period (1615-1868) the exchange of gifts was an important social ritual. Gifts were usually presented in a box on a tray over which the <i>fukusa</i> would be placed. The choice of a <i>fukusa</i> appropriate to the occasion was an important part of the gift-giving ceremony. The richness of the decoration was an indication of the donor's wealth and the design showed evidence of their taste and cultural sensitivity <br><br><b>Materials & Making</b><br>Many <i>fukusa</i> are embroidered. Much of the design in this example has been executed in gold thread, which looks dazzling against the black velvet ground. The thread consists of a silk core wrapped in paper and gold leaf. It has been laid on the surface of the fabric and attached with tiny stitches, a technique called couching. The three-dimensional effect was achieved by padding out various parts of the design with cotton prior to embroidering.<br><br><b>Subjects Depicted</b><br>This <i>fukusa</i> depicts the legend of Jo and Uba. They were an old couple who lived a long and happy life together. When they died their spirits occupied the old pine tree on the island where they had lived. On moonlit nights they returned in human form to clear the forest floor, Jo raking in the good and Uba sweeping out the bad. The story symbolises conjugal harmony and long life.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"velvet","id":"AAT133711"}],"techniques":[{"text":"embroidering","id":"AAT53653"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Velvet, embroidered with coloured silk and gold-wrapped thread","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AM7764","2011EU7524","2014HG0556","2022NH5009"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES343883"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Fukusa","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1850-1867","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1867-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"76","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"67.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: measured; 12/01/1999 by sf","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Mr. W. Wareham, accessioned in 1868. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Gift cover (fukusa), velvet embroidered with silk and gold-wrapped threads, Japan, 1850 - 1867","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nIn the late Victorian period it was very fashionable to decorate the home with Japanese objects. Textiles such as this, which would have been used in Japan to cover a gift, were particularly popular. The unusual motifs and lavish gold embroidery would have seemed very exotic to the British public.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["701-1868"],"accessionNumberNum":"701","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1868,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP7771","2019LU7050","2019LU4282","2019LW4697"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-26","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":true}}