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Japanese elites once presented gifts in boxes with gift covers (<em>fukusa</em>) draped over them. The decorated covers were typically lined with a monochrome backing, but this one’s borders are exposed. Its design is a <em>Tale of Genji</em> shell-matching game. Two clamshells shown in close-up are painted with scenes from two chapters of the novel. The one on the bottom is an episode from the “Kochō” (Butterflies) chapter, in which Genji’s beloved Murasaki sends her young attendants to dance for the empress. The one on the top may depict Genji writing a poem in the “Suzumushi” (Bell Cricket) chapter.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
d3143b8165cbfb25
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
95599
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "95599",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Tale of Genji Shell-Matching Game",
    "description": "Japanese elites once presented gifts in boxes with gift covers (<em>fukusa</em>) draped over them. The decorated covers were typically lined with a monochrome backing, but this one’s borders are exposed. Its design is a <em>Tale of Genji</em> shell-matching game. Two clamshells shown in close-up are painted with scenes from two chapters of the novel. The one on the bottom is an episode from the “Kochō” (Butterflies) chapter, in which Genji’s beloved Murasaki sends her young attendants to dance for the empress. The one on the top may depict Genji writing a poem in the “Suzumushi” (Bell Cricket) chapter.",
    "date": "1868–1912",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1319",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79477406"
    ],
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        "Embroidery"
    ],
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    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1319/1916.1319_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1319/1916.1319_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 85.1 x 72.4 cm (33 1/2 x 28 1/2 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1319"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "95599",
    "label": "Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Tale of Genji Shell-Matching Game",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "95599",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Tale of Genji Shell-Matching Game",
    "description": "Japanese elites once presented gifts in boxes with gift covers (<em>fukusa</em>) draped over them. The decorated covers were typically lined with a monochrome backing, but this one’s borders are exposed. Its design is a <em>Tale of Genji</em> shell-matching game. Two clamshells shown in close-up are painted with scenes from two chapters of the novel. The one on the bottom is an episode from the “Kochō” (Butterflies) chapter, in which Genji’s beloved Murasaki sends her young attendants to dance for the empress. The one on the top may depict Genji writing a poem in the “Suzumushi” (Bell Cricket) chapter.",
    "date": "1868–1912",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1319",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79477406"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Embroidery"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1319/1916.1319_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1319/1916.1319_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1319/1916.1319_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 85.1 x 72.4 cm (33 1/2 x 28 1/2 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1319"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "Silk: embroidered; metallic thread",
    "tombstone": "Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Tale of Genji Shell-Matching Game (源氏絵貝合図刺繍袱紗), 1868–1912. Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912). Silk: embroidered; metallic thread; overall: 85.1 x 72.4 cm (33 1/2 x 28 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade, 1916.1319",
    "titleInOriginalLanguage": "源氏絵貝合図刺繍袱紗",
    "collection": "Textiles",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "Bush, Mary Polityka. \"Fukusa: The Art of Giving in Edo Period Japan.\" <em>Piecework</em> 23, no. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2015): 40-43.",
            "page_number": "Reproduced: p. 42"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1319",
    "creditline": "Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 05:08:02.795000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1319/1916.1319_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 95599,
    "dept": "Textiles",
    "coll": "Textiles",
    "med": "Silk: embroidered; metallic thread",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
{
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