Roll of Cloth for an Obi and Tortoise-shell Hair Ornaments (“Presents for One’s Beloved”), from the Butterfly Series, from Spring Rain Surimono Album (Harusame surimono-jō, vol. 3) 1800 - 1820

This woodblock print, “Roll of Cloth for an Obi and Tortoise-shell Hair Ornaments (“Presents for One’s Beloved”), from the Butterfly Series, from Spring Rain Surimono Album (Harusame surimono-jō, vol. 3)” by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, depicts a luxurious gift set. The detail shows an elegant roll of cloth, likely for an obi (sash), with a vibrant floral design and a phoenix, a symbol of good luck. The accompanying tortoise-shell hair ornaments are displayed in a delicate box. This surimono, a type of finely crafted print created by and for connoisseurs, exemplifies the aesthetic sensibilities of the early 19th-century Edo period in Japan.