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Source 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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
95599
label
Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Tale of Genji Shell-Matching Game
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
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
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79477406
genreSpecific
Embroidery
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
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
creditline
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:08:02.795000
sourceId
95599
dept
Textiles
coll
Textiles
med
Silk: embroidered; metallic thread
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
d3143b8165cbfb25