Catalog: Archives: Regional Art: Asian (73)

The black dye changed its color to a dark gray which is nice in its own way. It is a formal wear with 5 mon (family crest). Top half of the lining is done with a white silk and the bottom half is done with the same black silk from the front. The design from the front goes throughout the inside lining! The bottom is lightly padded which makes this kimono into a great decoration piece. Beautifully hand sewn, again it is the work of art itself...

This Imari dish is 18 5/8 inches in diameter, probably with the original "tomobako" box dated "the third year of Ansei", 1857. The design is divided into three repeated sections with Karako boys. The enameling is of good quality, underglazed blue with gold in a lovely soft tone which can only be found on pieces as old as the Meiji period. The date shown on the box is 3 years after the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry in the black ship demanding the opening of the county...

"Chinese beauty is", according to my Chinese friend, "she should walk like a weeping willow, her eyebrows should be fashionably shaped like its leaves and her long fingers must not show any trace of hard work" – I kind of love this part... Here she is sitting in a chair waiting to be carried by her new husband.

This is a very famous Chinese scene, new bride going home to visit her mother for the first time. This ritual follows three days after the wedding...

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...

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