Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Textiles (90)

Japanese nobori banner, hand painted (dyed) with samurai Yoshinaka (Kiso no) and Tomoe Gozen, a woman warrior. Dimensions: 15 3/4" wide and 147 1/2" long. Hand woven soft cotton with hand spun yarn. Early 1900s. Excellent condition but please expect some minor stains because of the age. It may hang better without the side handles on the wall.

Yoshinaka is a member of the Minamoto family (Genji) from the late Heian period (794-1185)...

This quilt is made out of an old Japanese nobori banner probably from the Meiji period (1868-1912). The upper part of the banner, where the family crest (Mon) is dyed, was used for the border and two figures were sewn together side by side. The brown fabrics on each side of the design are the reverse side of an old obi sash. All hand-sewn except for the straight line where the panels were put together...

This is an old silk satin obi in maru obi style (design runs on both sides from one end to the other). This obi was probably made from a uchikake gown. It is very soft and feather light with soft padding inside. The padding is wrapped with floss silk inside to keep the soft material and padding intact - you need many years of experience...

Thick antique cotton futon fabric, Aizome Japanese indigo dye and the design is drawn in Tsutsugaki paste regist. Color Loss. 49" wide x 61" long.

Antique Japanese Fukusa (gift cover), Kinko (Ch. Qin Gao) on a giant carp. According to old Chinese legend, only a mighty carp can climb the upstream of the Yellow River where water plunges a hundred feet, turning into a water fall. When it does happen, a carp can turn into a dragon and is able to ascend to heaven. Based on the legend, a task that seems almost impossible to attain is called ‘passing the Dragon Gate’...

A Japanese silk oohi (Buddhist priest's ritual shoulder covering), deep salmon pink brocade silk with an overall design of overlapping fan shaped panels and snowflakes interspersed with daisies and Chinese bell flowers, etc; internal corners with Japanese symbols on a white ground. The ties and liner are green silk. Meiji period. Dimensions - 12 1/2" x 58 1/2".

Antique Tansu cover (yutan) with a family crest of crane. There are few Yutans left in original shape like this one. The fabric is a loosely hand woven cotton and is made to fit over the tansu (cabinet), the size of 40" by 18". This cover can be dissembled into a flat cloth of 27 inches by 118 inches. The condition of the fabric appears to be in new condition with two holes between the 72" to 74" location...

Old Kyoto Nishijin obi. This obi is one of the 5 favorite obis from my collection - we have over 200 obis. It is almost impossible to find a obi like this today. The owner of the store in Tokyo where this obi was purchased once said that single good obi was coming out from one household when they go out knocking on the doors in the old town. The store had gone through changes since and no longer carries antique textiles...

Hand-woven Kasuri ramie (high quality hemp) taken from a man’s kimono with a pattern of small arrows. This type of kasuri fabric was not for common people. It was too expensive so it was only worn by wealthy merchants or the samurai class. 3 1/3" cut in the middle, 1 to 2 small hole. Meiji period (1868-1912). 13 1/8” x 111 1/4”

Please see Trocadero#38274 for details.

Kesa was originally made from old scraps of material donated to the priests. The scraps became finer and quite luxious in time. People who gave to Buddhist institutions were often keen to give very expensive items, so some fabulous kesas were created from wonderful silk brocades. This also could mean that the wealthier temples end up collecting the better fabrics or are able to send out for the expensive custom made kesas...

This type of fukusa is a cover placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony such as "Yui-noh" which is prior to a wedding. It has a peaceful, ordinary outside view seen through an elegant blind (shown at the top) and a silk room divider (left side) which are both remainders of the Heian Court (794-1160). Cranes and plums represent longevity, harmony and women’s beauty along with their strength...

Antique Japanese fabric, Japanese indigo dye (aizome), Katazome stencil dye on loosely woven cotton, flowers in chained fuji (wisteria) Shippo design. Excellent condition (one hole, visible on reverse side). 56" long x 13 1/4" wide.

Beautiful Kyoto Nishijin silk obi, decorated with flowers, ribbons and mirrors. Gold is genuine and used in two different methods; strips of gilt paper (machine cut) and gold leaf wrapped around the silk threads. Some gold leaf are natually missing from the strips of paper - this did not show up in most photos (see enlargement photo). This obi looks older (clean) than shown in the photos. Circa 1920-1940. Dimensions: 12 3/4" x 170"

Japanese Kesa, Buddhist Priests' Robe, soft brocades with silk liner. The liner has some discoloration and is soiled. 46" x 77 1/2"

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...

The Nobori banners for Boy's Day in Japan are very eye-catching. It may be rare to see them actually used today but many that we have left feature colorful drawings of Samurai warriors, heroes from the past, or characters or animals from the stories.

The word NOBORU is to climb as in to climb up, amount to someone worthy or it could simply mean something visibly towering high in the battle field. The designs of earlier Nobori banners were much simpler; they were used to identify thei...

Japanese Kesa, Buddhist priests' robe, "ro" summer silk. 44 1/2" x 77", the color changed evenly to a tannned tone. There are some stains in the front and back, and the handle and the folding lines in the back are soiled.