Japanese Tapestry Facts

Ornate tapestries have been made in Japan since the 1600s. These tapestries have served a variety of uses and have been known to feature gold, silver and silk.

Japanese Polychrome Tapestry

Tsuzure-nishiki, or Japanese polychrome tapestries, feature surface relief achieved through the use of cotton threads that are coated with gold, silver or silk.

Uses

Traditionally, Japanese tapestries were used to wrap gifts and as decoration, not as wall hangings.

History

The production of Japanese tapestries was high during the Tukogawa Period (1603-1867) as well as throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

Silk Wall Tapestry

Tapestries featuring silk embroidery were made in Japan during the second part of the 19th century and exported to the West for use as decoration.

Exports

Japanese exports were in high demand in the 1600s and 1700s. During this time many Japanese tapestries feature chinoiserie to combine Eastern and Western ideas.

References

• The World of Weaving: History of Tapestry
• Japanese Silk Wall Tapestry
• The Getty: Imagining the Orient