furoshiki cloth, Japan, Meiji (circa 1890), cm 98x97. Furoshiki were (and still are to some extent) wrapping cloths used when carrying small personal belongings, or to eventually wrap a gift to be presented. They have usually plain ground and display a large family crest (komon) in the centre as an identification tool. The present lot shows such an image with a nice design of a butterfly encompassing a paulownia leave to form the crest. Colouring is rather rare, with the central motif died light indigo in the tsutsugsaki technique, and the background whose rich, dark green colour was achieved by over-dyeing indigo with a yellow dye. Hand spun, hand woven cotton, in rather good condition. An item worth considering.