Futon cover with phoenix and paulownia

桐に鳳凰文筒描木綿布団地 明治時代

This textile, stitched together from four panels of indigo dyed cotton, was the cover for a bedding comforter (kake futon) filled with cotton batting. Because one's finest bedding is purchased at the time of marriage, the imagery found on futon covers often features auspicious animals such as the phoenix, crane, or turtle. The phoenix used on this futon cover is a mythical bird of ancient China associated with good fortune and long life. When shown in a paulownia tree, as it is here, it suggests wise rule, and by extension, peace and prosperity for the people.

The technique used to make this colorful decoration is called tsutsugaki. The design was drawn using a tube of rice starch paste that looks something like the icing bag you might use to decorate a cake; when dyed, the areas applied with paste resist the dye and remain white. Additional colors can then be painted on or dyed repeating the same process.