Family Crest Wall Hanging

While the gold embroidered family crest was added in the 19th century, the silk base of this piece is from the 18th century. Japan was known for their repurposing and recycling of textiles, so the ground was likely sewn together from panels of another textile in the home.

Family crests, or “Kamon,” originated in the Heian Period (794-1185) as a way for the nobility to identify themselves. To make the symbols more appealing, they often used plants and florals as inspiration for the designs. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), kamon also became popular among common people.

This design consists of a circle of five Japanese arrowhead leaves and five sprigs of Lily of the valley. Gold metallic thread is embroidered using the couching technique on a silk damask ground.