Pure Gold Herons and Pine Trees Fukuro Corset

This Corset is a unique piece made from a Japanese vintage Obi coming from Hokkaido, from the Showa Era. An Obi is a sash or a belt used to hold in place a kimono, a Japanese traditional dress.

The embroidery is made with refined golden threads, which are complex to work with. The detailed embroidery represents a group of Herons flying towards the top of flourished tall Pines. The rest of the Obi is plain matte Gold, used for the back panels of the Corset. The dense Gold colour used in this Obi makes this fabric as lustrous and precious as a piece of jewellery. Utilised for its beauty and indestructibility, Gold is too soft in its pure form for many practical applications. 

It is therefore hardened by the addition of other metals, which tint the Gold with various shades.  

In Japan, the noble colour Gold, or Ki, is the symbol of the Sun, and of the Gods’ Power and Mercy. For this reason, Gold is often used as decoration in temples and shrines. Throughout Asia, the Heron is a symbol of Happiness and Eternal  Youth. 

In Japan especially, it is considered a holy creature and symbolises Good Fortune and Longevity. The evergreen Pine is universally known as 

the symbol of Life and represents Steadfastness.