DESIGNER'S NOTES

A bold Fox & Chave crêpe de Chine silk scarf featuring a stylised phoenix from a screen by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760 - 1849)

Hokusai’s depiction of a phoenix, most notably in his ceiling painting Phoenix (c. 1843) for Ganshō-in Temple, exemplifies the Edo-period fascination with mythological grandeur and Chinese influence. The phoenix or hō-ō in Japanese, symbolises imperial virtue, rebirth, and peace, drawn from both Chinese and native traditions.

Hokusai rendered the bird with sweeping dynamism, intricate feathers, and a vivid, almost supernatural energy, combining realism with stylised abstraction. Painted in his eighties, it reflects his lifelong obsession with capturing the movement and spirit of living forms. The work asserts Hokusai’s mastery beyond prints, fusing decorative power with profound spiritual symbolism.

The phoenix here is from a similar depiction by Hokusai that appears on a two-panel folding screen (byōbu), showcasing the mythical bird in flight amidst swirling clouds and flames.

Unlike his woodblock prints, this screen reveals Hokusai’s skill in large-scale formats and traditional ink-and-colour painting. It functioned not just as decoration, but as a symbol of auspicious power and renewal.

COLOURS

STYLING

Wear your Fox & Chave crêpe de chine silk scarf in a variety of ways from the French Knot: Fold scarf in half, loop around neck, pull ends through loop, to the Infinity Knot: Loop scarf twice, tie ends in knot. More scarf styling ideas are available in this wonderful How to Tie a Scarf book.