Old Nishijin Obi, Cranes in Pastel Colors
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Directory: Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Pre 1920: Item # 30964
Directory: Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Pre 1920: Item # 30964
sold
When you look at an obi like this, you know why the name "Nishijin" is so known. This is a very formal obi, the biggest obi that I have seen, 13" wide and 154" long. Just a perfect piece for the formal dining room.
It is large enough to cover two formal dining room tables. The colors are pastel, very gentle. When this obi was woven, the gold thread was woven in together. Every dot and line that you see in these pictures is the gold thread. It is a thick textile without a thick padding. It still has the remains of the old basting stitches here and there. There is no sign of being used. The last picture (enlargement 6) is quite big. It shows the gold hue that this obis has throughout except for the embroidery area. The texture is rough with all those metals.
I did spent my fortune aquiring this piece some years back in Tokyo area.