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Buddhist altar cloth (uchishiki)
Japanese
Meiji era
late 19th century, made from 17th century fabric
Object Place: Japan
Medium/Technique
Silk satin-weave ground, pieced, tie resist-dyed (kanoko shibori), embroidered (shishû) with silk, couched (koma nui) with gold-wrapped thread
Dimensions
209.6 x 209.8 cm (82 1/2 x 82 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.3939
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsTextiles
DescriptionBuddhist altar cloth (uchishiki), made from several pieces stitched together, with design of maple leaves and chrysanthemum embroidered with silk and couched with gold metallic thread on a hand tie-dyed white silk satin ground; lined with white and pink plain-weave silk. This altar cloth is made from two 17th-century robes (kosode).
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.