Japan

The function of Embroidered Textile with Cranes and Pine Trees is still unclear. This 114 feet long, 8.5 feet wide damask was thought to be an early Edo period Obi (belt on Kimono). However, considered the pattern and the use of metal thread, this piece was probably designed to present in an unfold condition. The original document written by the Austin family when donating this textile indicates that this embroidery may once served as a decorative element in the proscenium of a small Japanese house theater. Since this damask was a 19th century work, it may belong to the Edo period. According to the hem marks on the four sides of the embroidery, it may once sew on a larger piece of cloth. This image shows Ichimura-za, an Edo period Kabuki (a form of singing and dancing performance) theater in the 1790s. Ichimura-za shows the style of Japanese theater at Edo period, but it may be bigger in size compares to where Embroidered Textile with Cranes and Pine Trees belong. It is unclear which theather this textile belongs to and when it was taken down. 

Text Sources:

Japanese Textile Information Sheet, in Ethelind Austin Former Faculty File, RG.005.900, Marion B. Gebbie Archives, Wheaton College, Norton, MA, U.S.A.

Yitong Cai, email message to Yishu Zhu, April 8, 2014. 

Image Source:

Wikipedia contributors, "江戸三座," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/江戸三座 (accessed April 18, 2004).