Over Robe (Uchikake) with Long-Tailed Birds in a Landscape

Over Robe (Uchikake) with Long-Tailed Birds in a Landscape

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Birds with long tails inhabit a bright landscape of waterfalls, rocks, pine trees, and cherry blossoms. Resembling auspicious motifs frequently used in China, the birds have the vivid color of pheasants and the ribbon-like tails of magpies, yet the dominance of cherry blossoms firmly places the scene in Japan. The inherent qualities of the materials, such as the lustrous white satin damask ground, and techniques, such as the long floating satin stitch embroidery, used on this uchikake increase the reflection of light and lend great radiance to the auspicious landscape. Most brilliant of all is the gold thread applied with a couching technique for the waterfalls and forceful current. In the couching technique, shiny metallic threads are laid on the surface of the fabric and stitched into place, permitting the reflection of light along the unbroken length of the waterfall.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Over Robe (Uchikake) with Long-Tailed Birds in a LandscapeOver Robe (Uchikake) with Long-Tailed Birds in a LandscapeOver Robe (Uchikake) with Long-Tailed Birds in a LandscapeOver Robe (Uchikake) with Long-Tailed Birds in a LandscapeOver Robe (Uchikake) with Long-Tailed Birds in a Landscape

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.