Futonji (bedding cover) with bamboo and sparrows

early 20th century

Bands of vertical stripes separate two motifs on this futonji-bamboo and sparrows. Bamboo, a plant admired for its sturdy root structure and for its unadorned beauty, serves as a symbol of prosperity, purity and innocence. Sparrows in flight, known for their ease in maneuvering around obstacles, offer counterpoint to the bamboo. Placing both these symbols on a bed cover, often given in marriage, presents two very different character traits for relationships.

Cotton cloth with indigo dye (kasuri) and double ikat

56 3/4 x 49 1/2 in. (144.15 x 125.73 cm)

Gift of the Christensen Fund

2001.453

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Order and Border", February 26, 2010 - August 28, 2011

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Textures of Daily Life: Art from Japan"
July 9, 2003 - October 21, 2003 (7/9/2003- 10/1/2003)

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