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Japanese Temple Cloth, Old Obi, silver brocade browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese:Textiles: Pre 1900: item # 991142
Asian Art by Kyoko California USA Guest Book Price on Request |
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The fabric is thick, silver brocade that appears to be taken from a Japanese woman's old obi. The liner is cotton. During the Edo period (1602-1868), there was a custom that the family of a deceased woman would donate her favorite kimono to the temple; some beautiful temple cloths were created from those wonderful fabrics. The custom was likely to have continued after the period. The design on the fabric is an ancient one; facing animal figures, Kirin (we think) with dragon-like creatures and auspicious flowers. Kirin is the Japanese word for the Chinese mythical beast, Qulin. They are all done with silver (tarnished to brown). The silver has paper backing which was rolled around the silk (or hemp) threads, then woven into the silk. The use of papers in textiles is fairly common in Japanese textiles. This may have been made for a temple but could also have made for non-religious use. It shows some damage, particularly on the seams and folding lines. The dimensions: 64"L x 62"W. Obi that are firmly woven with small repeated patterns are typical of Meiji obi. The pattern became large and colorful toward the Taisho period (1912-1926) reflecting the free spirits from that period. I think this weaving is called ‘mohl-ori’ in Japan. The term ‘mohl’ (braid) was derived from the Portuguese ‘mogol’ and ‘ori’ which means weaving. It supposedly went to Japan from the Mughal Empire (1526-1707) via Nanban trading. The Mughal Empire covered what is today’s Northern India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the culture was a mixture of Indian (Hindus) and Islam. Early mohl-ori from the period was treasured by tea masters who practiced ‘cha no yu’ during the Edo period. |
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