Catalog: Archives (152)

The design of this kimono is done in Kyoto Yuzen dye (famous paste resist dyeing method) and Bokashi (gradual shading). It is a formal wear with 5 mon (family crest). Top half of the lining is done with a beautiful red silk and the bottom half is done with the same black silk from the front...

This is a Japanese lacquered hair comb and pin set. The dimensions of the comb are 2 1/4 inches by 4 1/12 inches long. The length of the hair pin is 6 1/2 inches long. It is probably from the Taisho to early Showa period.

I have never seen this type of Hina Goten (Palace) until I found this one. No longer a spring chicken myself, I asked several people in Japan if they knew anything about this style. No one knew. We may call this a rare find. The Hina ningyo (doll) set that I grew up with was displayed in the steps style, which is still a common way of displaying 15 dolls with furnitures as long as a space permits...

These 26 assortments of Japanese kasuri patchwork cloths came from old kimonos (some are new), thin to thick cotton. Some have tiny holes, fadings or repairs. One is lined with an ai dye blue fabric.

The largest one is 13 3/4" x 25 1/2"; the smallest 6" x 6 1/4". The total length together: 13 3/4" x approx. 23'(276 inches)

This is an old carp made with asa (hemp or bast fiber). It was probably used as a streamer called Koinobori for the Boy’s Day (renamed to Chilren's Day). The larger Koi can be bigger than 10

The design is done with "Kaioke", the shell boxes. They were used in shell matching game, a popular game played in the Edo period (1603-1868). The design that you see here is not patchwork. The silk was dyed first leaving the areas protected, then the designs were painted on later. Some needlework was added later to enhence the design. The condition of this kimono is excellent and wearable. There is no color loss, very high quality item. The measurements are 50

We learn how people lived in the Edo period (1603-1867) from the dolls (ningyo) that were left to us today. They are called Fuuzoku (customs and manners) ningyo or Ukiyo (floating world) ningyo. There are basically two types of dolls of young men among them.

Wakashu ningyo is one of them. Wakashu was used to refer to young men who had yet to experience the ceremonial rite of passage of becoming a man, commonly at the age of 12 in the old time...

WEARABLE ART: When this coat was tailored out of an old Japanese kimono, it was made to stress the lightness of the coat without the lining. Light coconut shell buttons were chosen for the same reason. Freshly made using the fabric from early 1900 to 1940. Black color with a slight green tint and silver thread stripes, medium size.

This summer obi is made out of soft "Ro" silk with a gold tint. The silk on the front side is in mint condition (never been used) with an antique looking silk liner. Soft and high quality obi. It comes with basting stitches all around. The design on the silk is a picture of Karuta cards with beautiful calligraphy of old “waka