Altar cloth

Silk Buddhist altar cloth with a repeating woven pattern of peony, chrysanthemums, dragon and phoenix, with green, red, blue, pink, white and brown silk with gold kinran (lacquered and gilded paper) woven through to form the diamond and floral background: Japan, mid-Meiji era, 1884 - 1899

Altar cloth

Brocade Buddhist altar cloth (uchishiki) woven in violet, browns, light pinks, green, and cream silks and gold thread on a light blue ground and showing a repeating design of dragons pursuing the magic jewel: Japan, 19th century

Altar cloth

Silk Buddhist altar cloth (uchishiki) with repeating woven motif of five-clawed dragons and clouds in green, yellow, orange, pink, blue, pale blue silks and gold kinran (lacquered and gilded paper) woven throughout, lined with blue silk: Japan, mid-Meiji era, 1884 - 1899

Altar cloth

Silk Buddhist altar cloth with repeating woven motif of three-clawed dragons, lions on a grid pattern with lotus flowers woven in coloured silks and gold kinran (lacquered and gilded paper) woven throughout: Japan, mid-Meiji era, 1884 - 1899