This elegant pillow features a vintage Japanese silk from a Maru obi (most formal Japanese sash) that dates from the Taisho era (1912-1926) or early Showa era (1926-1945). Technique: dye. The textile is exquisite silk and has a soft touch. The pattern includes a phoenix, clouds, and grass. The concept of the phoenix originated from ancient China. It is a mythical bird which is thought to be a composite of several creatures. It may be depicted with the face of a swallow, the beak of a fowl, the neck of a serpent, the forequarters of a unicorn, the hindquarters of a deer, and/or the tail of a fish. The Chinese characters for phoenix mean "spirit of fire" and "female". Other birds are said to follow when the mythical phoenix takes flight. Legend has it that its appearance occurs in times of peace and harmony. In the early Showa period, phoenix designs were given a more Japanese style and the colors toned down to make them more suitable to be worn by women. The phoenix is a favored motif for celebratory garments.

Resource: Nitanai, Keiko. Kimono Design: An Introduction to Textiles and Patterns. Tuttle Publishing, English Translation by Leeyong Soo 2017. 

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