I've had this textile for some time now. I don't even know if it is Japanese or Chinese. As you can see it is disintegrating.
It was nearly impossible to photograph. I took it outside for the light, but feared it blowing away in bits. The 'thread', silk I am certain, is finer than a human hair. It seems to be bonded somehow to a paper like backing, then attached to some kind of board. Notice the white paper with the silk attached to the right of her chest.
There was a boy beside her. Notice the background of a stairway to the right and stone walls and pavers on the ground.
The upper left is beautiful with it delicate florals. What I thought were flames must in fact be drapery of some kind. Did they even use drapery back then?
Their little shoes and dress should tell where they are from.
Again, my limited camera skills and no knowledge of how to photo shop etc. can't show much more than I have shown. Can't imagine how someone made this so long ago. So sweet, but sad it won't last long.
