This is an uchikake robe (outer kimono gown) probably used as Kabuki stage costume. The bottom and the openings of sleeves are thickly padded with cotton stuffing. The design is large paulownia leaves and flowers. This gown is old in good condition (clean) with some broken couching stitches. One small tear (hole) in red liner in the back.
48” (1.22m) wide x 5’6” (1.68m) long with 21” (53.3cm) long sleeves ...click for details
Beautiful Japanese maru obi! Obis can be used as a belt to hold a kimono together. The classic design from the Heian Period (794-1192AD) of ox carts, fans and court music instruments run throughout the front and back. The gold is woven into the fabric almost entirely and sparkles when it is hit by light – it has much gentler tones in the dark. The earth tone green and rusty brown are particularly pretty on this obi. With a thick padding inside, this obi will make a great decoration piec ...click for details
Japanese uchikake (wedding gown) with a colorful design of flowers and birds done in the Tsujigahana-zome (dye) style. The old Tsujigahana dye technique was used on the clothing of the Muromachi to Momoyama period elites. Inside the tie dyed area, flowers and birds were painted with blue, purple and black ink. Tsujigahana-dye was short lived and completely vanished by the early 17th century because of its extreme complexity. This gown is very beautiful with many woven metal threads; ...click for details
A Japanese tooled leather tobacco pouch decorated in low relief in gold and colors with shaped panels of boys at play, roosters, peonies, ducks, etc, silver peony shaped clasp; the pipe case in pressed fiber in imitation of rattan; agate ojime. Meiji period.
Japanese Hakata ningyo, unglazed clay doll of a young samurai (wakashu) with a dancing fan. This doll may have been modeled after a character in Kabuki (played by all males) or Takarazuka (played by all females). There were many play houses in Hakata during the late Meiji, Taisho and early Showa period. The Takarazuka theater (Fukuoka Takarazuka?) was also there. Live theater play was quite popular before play houses and theaters went through destruction in the form of fires, bombing or simply b ...click for details
A Japanese leather tobacco pouch with stag horn pipe case (kiseruzutsu), ojime and silver pipe (kiseru). The pipe case is finely carved in relief with an eagle on a pine branch above a waterfall; the ojime is engraved with a key fret design; the pipe case with a patinated copper clasp modeled as a frog, the silver pipe with engraved bamboo. Meiji period (1868 - 1912).
A pair of Chinese candlesticks of European form decorated with sprays of flowers on a green cloud scroll background, gilt copper mounts. The bases are marked "CHINA".
Unglazed Japanese Hakata clay doll, Matsukaze. The noh Play, "Matsukaze (the wind in the pines)" is about a sad love story of two beautiful sisters, Matsukaze and Murasame. 16" (40cm) tall - 13 3/4" (35cm) doll on 2" (5cm) stand. The dimensions of stand: 14" (35.7cm) x 10 5/8" (27cm) x 2 1/16" (5cm)
Hakata ningyo, unglazed Japanese ceramic doll, signed by the well known Hakata ningyo artist, Genzo Soda. The words "early spring" is written next to the artist's signature. This could be the name of the doll or the time of the year that this doll was made.
Mr. Genzo Soda is designated as an intangible cultural property holder of Fukuoka prefecture and is the recipient of numerous awards such as the Japanese Prime Minister's award, International Trade and Industry Secret ...click for details
Japanese silk obi, Nagoya style, dyed with the design of Chinese Empress and court attendants in the bamboo grove. It appears that this was converted to current Nagoya style obi (from kimono?). The design of this obi is unique. The wide and narrow area of this obi has different designs on both sides and all seams appear clean. By taking one side of the seam apart, you have a large fabric to work with (double in size with one seam in the center). Making into a tapestry, wall hanging on c ...click for details
