futonji, Japan, Late Meiji (circa 1900), cm 152x98. Small bedding cover, whose rich, dark green colour was achieved by over-dyeing indigo with a yellow dye. It is made of a beautiful, very richly hand-spun, hand-dyed, hand-stitched cotton cloths. The large central roundel family crest (komon) was obtained with ‘tsutsugaki’ technique, and is a representation of a ‘wild orange flower’. The futonji has been used over the years, so it is showing little fading in places, and has a couple of mended little holes; this just adds to its appeal though… at least this is our very personal ‘perception’ about it. a visually great object.