{"product_id":"futonji","title":"Futonji","description":"\u003cp\u003eJapanese bedding sets, or futons, typically consist of a padded mattress and a quilted blanket. Traditionally, the blanket often incorporated a decorated cover that would have been made as part of a bride’s trousseau. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis example bears an elaborate pattern of a phoenix flying over a Paulownia tree. The combination of a phoenix with a Paulownia tree symbolizes peace, sincerity, and benevolence, appropriate attributes for a wedding textile. Unusually, this textile is made from raw silk rather than cotton.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhereas some futonji are created using a stencil, this cover was created using tsutsugaki technique, where the artisan applied the starch resist freehand through a tube called a nori tsutsu. The application required significant artistic skill, particularly around the edges and when blending colors. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEven though this futonji likely dates to the late Meiji period (~1900) it is in exceptional condition, suggesting it was not used. I rarely see colors this bold on an antique textile.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: ex Linda Wrigglesworth, London, 1998\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e71x51 inches\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mingei Archive","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48157638983835,"sku":null,"price":3500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0584\/2685\/1483\/files\/E26354A9-CFB1-435A-85D9-C382D2D459D7.jpg?v=1774056072","url":"https:\/\/mingeiarchive.com\/products\/futonji","provider":"Mingei Archive","version":"1.0","type":"link"}