Cranes Bookmark

White cranes in flight, wings outstretched and black-tipped, threading between fans of pine needles on a soft sage ground. It's a quietly elegant piece of design, and a deliberately Japanese one — cranes and pine are a classic pairing in Japanese art, both symbols of long life and good fortune, and a motif that has decorated kimono, screens and woodblock prints for centuries.

Emily Burningham is a British designer known for bold, pared-back pattern work, and this shows the other side of her range: where her seaside designs are cheerful and graphic, this one is all movement and restraint. It rewards a proper look — the more you follow the birds around the page, the better the composition gets.

At 48 × 162mm with a turquoise ribbon marker, it lies flat in any book. A beautiful small gift for a lover of Japanese art and design, a birdwatcher, or anyone with a calm, considered sort of bookshelf.

Come and see the full Museums & Galleries range in the shop — there's always more on the shelves than we can fit online.

Key features

• Cranes design by British designer Emily Burningham
• Japanese-inspired cranes and pine fronds on a soft sage green ground
• Turquoise ribbon marker
• 48mm × 162mm
• Museums & Galleries, the British art-stationery publisher behind the V&A, Tate, Natural History Museum and British Museum ranges
• Flat enough to post inside a greetings card
• Perfect for lovers of Japanese art, bird and nature enthusiasts, and book club gifts

FAQ

• Who is Emily Burningham? A British designer known for bold, decorative pattern, and a regular name in the Museums & Galleries range.
• Why cranes? In Japanese art the crane is a symbol of longevity and good fortune, often paired with pine — another emblem of long life.
• What colour is the ribbon? Turquoise.
• What size is the bookmark? 48mm wide by 162mm tall.
• Is it suitable as a gift? Yes — a lovely small gift on its own, and light enough to post inside a card.