Patterns of Brocades Worn at Court - Matsuoka Shiben

A 19th-century woodblock print from the Shōzoku shokumon zue, documenting traditional Japanese court textile patterns with stylised birds, flora, and deer.

This woodblock print originates from the Shōzoku shokumon zue, a catalogue documenting the textile patterns used for court attire during the Edo period. Matsuoka Shiben compiled these designs to preserve the visual history of Japanese ceremonial clothing. The print displays a symmetrical arrangement of motifs, featuring stylised birds, floral elements, and deer, all rendered in a distinct yellow ink against a muted green background. The composition reflects the formalised aesthetic of the time, where specific patterns held social and ceremonial meaning.

The design follows a traditional layout, with the central motif framed by vertical text in both black and red ink. The inclusion of calligraphy provides context for the specific brocade pattern, identifying its usage and historical lineage. The lines are precise, characteristic of the woodblock printing techniques employed in mid-19th-century Japan. The imagery avoids naturalistic representation in favour of a symbolic, decorative approach, common in textile pattern books of this era.

This print offers a view into the material culture of the Japanese court. It functions as a record of design rather than a standalone pictorial work. The balance between the graphic elements and the surrounding negative space on the paper creates a clean, structured appearance. The print is a useful reference for those interested in the history of Japanese textiles, graphic design, and the intersection of traditional craft with archival documentation. The paper shows signs of age, including minor foxing, which is typical for documents of this provenance.