TEXTILES
Japan
Futonji (futon cover)
Plain weave; Resist dyed, paste resist (tsutsugaki); Painted (on fabric)
Cotton; Vegetable dye (indigo); Pigments; Tsutsugaki printing
63 x 52 in. (160 x 132.1 cm) overall
Frances and Thomas Blakemore Collection
TC 96.2-174

The plum blossom crest in the center foreground with bamboo and pine in the background are design motifs known as the “three companions of the deep cold,” and their endurance throughout the seasons associates them with virtues such as constancy, integrity, and honor. The crane and tortoise symbolize longevity and happiness. -- Researched by Elisa Law, Spring 2013.