Artwork preview

Buddhist Priest's Vestment (Kesa) with Phoenix

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dark blue rectangular piece of fabric with a grid pattern of 17 rectangular sections sewn together. A large phoenix is centered on the fabric, displayed in various shades of brown, orange, green and white. The bird's body and tail feathers point to the right. Its wings are spread out and pointed toward the upper left and lower right. The bird's head is turned toward the right. The background has scattered white clouds in the upper right and lower left. Brown tree roots are visible in the bottom left and right corners. Small orange squares with a white floral pattern are in the upper right and left corners and lower right and left corners. Green leaves and pink flowers are throughout the bottom.

Artwork details

Date:
19th century
Medium:
Silk and metallic thread tapestry
Culture:
Japan
Dimensions:
599 × 339 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette