Meiji Period Embroidered Textile

Embroidered wall hanging (pictured without border)
Silk, denim, gold, thread and paper
Japan, 19th century
83” x 59”
36756 The auspicious dragon, associated with wealth and good fortune, is the subject of this mythology based Japanese textile. The Japanese three-toed dragon lives in a watery realm, but it also has the ability to fly among the clouds. Dragons can be petulant and behave unpredictably and this seems to be the mood of these opposing dragons. The dragons are dramatically positioned displaying tensed undulating bodies and gestural faces. Flaring tails and claws, crashing waves and ocean spray, and swirling clouds contribute to the movement throughout the composition. A variety of embroidery techniques were used to achieve such energetic effects and embellished textures. The main bodies of the dragons are composed of gold couching (threads stitched to the surface of the fabric) that are backed with padding to form the arc of each scale. Long silky and lustrous dyed thread is stitched between thin rolled paper that defines the swirling and splashing sea water. This paper border technique also defines the dragon’s underbellies and faces. The entire background consists of many repeating circles placed together, each is made of spiraling thick beige threads. This wall hanging was produced in the Meiji period (1868-1912) and was intended for export. It was exhibited in the Japanese Village at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago, a large-scale event where all nations were invited to exhibit their material goods in a neutral environment. The Japanese Village was constructed on site with building components sent from overseas. Once completed, it held objects of Japanese origin for sale. This wall hanging captured the interest of Leland Stanford who purchased it as a gift for his wife. Stanford was the eighth Governor of California, founder of Stanford University, and President of the Central Pacific Railroad that built the nation’s first transcontinental railroad - Stanford hammered in the connecting golden spike. He also commissioned the famous photographer Muybridge to use new photography techniques in order to show if a galloping horse at any point had all feet off of the ground. This technique was the precursor to the moving picture. The wall hanging is currently on view in the new Dorothy and Donald Kennedy Wing across from the Norma Kershaw Auditorium.
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