Japanese Silk Embroidery of Mary Looking Up, Attributed to Iida Shinshichi House, Takashimaya, ca 1900 to 1920

This is a finely detailed framed (13.5 x 15 inches) silk embroidery of the Virgin Mary or Madonna looking upward attributed to the highly regarded Japanese studio Iida Shinshichi House, Takashimaya. The piece is worked in various shades of monochromatic orange on a black silk background to cleverly represent light and shadowing on her face and cowl. A similar embroidered panel in white was previously sold at auction (picture 3) with the full metal tag of the firm on the back, reading: Iida & Co. "Takashimaya" Kyoto Tokyo Yokohama. We believe this work is after a chromolithographic adaptation of The Mater Dolorosa by Guido Reni (Bologna 1575-1642) that was published by L. Prang & Co prior to 1900 (picture 4). The silk studios of Kyoto during the Meiji period routinely copied European art works in their development of export and tourist items for Westerners. At night the orange silk glows with the faintest light and creates a ghostly image.