Phoenix feather and pawlonia indigo tsutsugaki panel, Japan, Meiji (circa 1890), cm 157x32. Striking panel of hand-drawn rice-paste resisted tsutsugaki indigo cotton, dating to the second half of Meiji period (1868-1912). It features a colourfully hand-pigmented tail feather from a ‘ho-o’, the Chinese phoenix that was often the subject of tsutsugaki images. The motif also features stylized ‘kiri pawlonia’ tree leaves and flowers, said to be the only tree on earth upon which the heavenly phoenix would alight, and then only in times of perfect peace and harmony. Other than some weak threads, and the tiny repair along the selvedge visible in one of the detail images, this thick homespun cotton is in fine condition for its age, with botanical indigo that is deep and dark, and mineral pigments that, though somewhat faded, are still quite lovely. a wonderful piece to re-work into something original....