A gorgeous JAPANESE OBI DEPICTING IMPERIAL 5-CLAWED DRAGONS AMONGST CLOUDS, THE PEARL, suspended from a dowel and comes with 2 Tassels. Size: 152" x 12.5" (386 cm. x 32 cm.). Very good condition. Can be used as an embroidered Wall Hanging Tapestry or folded as a Central Runner on a long Table.

A stunning POLYCHROME JAPANESE OBI depicting a Phoenix in flight, Crashing Waves and Peacock Feathers. Folded and suspended from a wooden dowel, also comes with Tassels. Very good condition. Size: 160" x 13" (400 cm. x 32 cm.). Can be used as an embroidered Wall Hanging Tapestry or as a Central Runner on a long Table.

Boro small rug or a part of it which is made of almost countless fragments of vegetable indigo dye cotton. In cold districts, such as Tohoku and along the Japan Sea area, cultivation of cotton was difficult and cotton cloth was precious in old days, so that people bought fragments of cotton and made them to noragi, futonji, rugs and so on. This one has 7 to 8 layers of cloth. The late 19th to early 20th century. 91cm x 96cm. 1550gm

Maiwai is a kimono having been given to fishermen from a fish boat owner on the occasion of the large catch. It is seen along the Pacific Ocean, from Aomori to Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka prefecture. The motifs of the picture are auspicious ones such as crane, turtle, large sake cup and sea birds, and also the name of boat in the banner with katazome (stencil-resist-dye). It is vegetable indigo dye and colored with pigments...

Rice bag made of fragments of hand-spun cotton with stripes, katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and checks, all vegetable indigo and brown dye. The cord is cotton. Kome-bukuro was used when people dedicated rice to temples or shrines. In excellent condition except for several mending. The first half of the 20th century. W:44cm, H:33cm

HAGIRE

As a waste part cut off from thin make Japanese cotton cloth with the design resist-dyed, early 20th century, approx. 90 x 29 cm (35.43 x 11.41in). Creases, slight discoloration, and mending due to aging as is...

"Sorihiki-happi"from Yusa in Yamagata prefecture which was worn for sleigh pulling. It has cloth with sashiko for reinforcement diagonally, from shoulder to one side of the body, and also both sides. It was worn when sorihiki pull down a sleigh with firewood from the mountain to the foot of the mountain. Yusa sashiko is one of Shonai sashiko in Yamagata prefecture. This happi has fine horizontal as well as vertical sashiko on whole ground cloth...

Girl's hanten worn at the festival or ceremony with the girl's name "Kimiko" in front. Itis made of hand-spun cotton and cotton lining with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) crane motif. In excellent condition except for two tiny holes in front. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:73cm, L:53cm

Cotton cloth with "Kikai-suji shibori", Machine-pleated Stripes and vegetable indigo dye. Kikai-suji shibori was developed in 1910s and it was very popular then. Vegetable indigo dye. In excellent condition. 1910s to 1930 W:30cm, L:144cm

DECORATIVE HORSE ROPE

Tied-up rope made of twisting white and organic indigo dyed cotton once used for ritual horse-decoration, early 20th century, Japan. Tied as seen: approx. 30 x 90 x D 18 cm (11.81 x 35.43 x 7.08 in), Untied: approx. 1000 cm (393.70in)...

Tsugaru kogin kimono made of vegetable indigo dye hemp whose warps and wefts are hand plied. It is made in Tsugaru region in Aomori prefecture in Tohoku district. This kogin is called "Nishi-Kogin" which has stripes in shoulders. It is for enforcement of shoulders for a charcoal maker who brings a burden. Kogin is a kind of sashiko and its yarn is white cotton, making the hemp kimono warmer with thick sashiko in the colder district. It has several different kinds of kogin pattern...

Zabuton, a floor cushion made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. One side has kasuri pattern. It has four layers of cloth and sashiko (quilting) with white cotton yarn. Generally, in good condition but has wear or breaks in hems. Early 20th century. W:58cm, L:59cm.

HAGIRE

As a waste part cut off from thin make Japanese cotton cloth with the design resist-dyed, early 20th century, approx. 96 x 7-26 cm (37.79 x 2.75-10.23in). Creases, slight discoloration, and mending due to aging as is...

Large bag made of vegetable indigo dye hemp which looks recycled from hemp mosquito net, whose warps and wefts are hand-plied. The second half of the 20th century. 63cm x 88cm

Antique Japanese wedding kimono (uchikake). Made of beautiful silk brocade originally intended for an obi. Gold and green with woven pattern of pine, bamboo and chrysanthemums. The lining is sewn of red silk and the hem is padded. Meiji Period. Size: 61" high x 47 1/2" wide (sleeve to sleeve).

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)...

Antique Japanese yogi, thickly woven cotton, trimmed and lined with dark aizome (Japanese blue dye). There is a opening in the center of the liner where the cotton wadding was taken out. Excellent condition (old but new). The accent piece (dyed in Katazome, stencil dye) on the collar and shoulder area were added (remove and wash purpose) and slightly soiled. Late Meiji to early Showa. Dimensions: 63" x 68" L

This is an uchikake robe (outer kimono gown) probably used as Kabuki stage costume. The bottom and the openings of sleeves are thickly padded with cotton stuffing. The design is large paulownia leaves and flowers. The exterior and liner are both thick cotton. This robe is old, and a little soiled but the fabrics still have not lost it’s strength. It is an attractive display piece...

Antique Japanese tall banner for Boy's Day celebration, two mon (family crests), scene depicting a noted scene from a noh play called Takasago. The two old couples represent the wish for a couple to be together till the end. The rake represents raking in fortune and the broom for sweeping away misfortune and bad energy. A crane above and an ancient turtle below, both also symbolic of longevity. The banner is painted in mineral pigments on cotton. 190" high x 26 1/2" wide.

Antique Ainu robe, Hokkaido Area, Japan...

Antique Japanese wedding kimono gown, black silk brocade with flying cranes over pine, plum and bamboo (Sho Chiku Bai). They are celebrative motifs that are almost always seen in the Japanese wedding and New Year. The beautiful color combination of gold threads (wrapped in real gold leaf) and white shiny silk threads are woven into the background of black Shusu, satin silk with the contrasting color of a red silk liner. This is an absolutely gorgeous wedding gown. With the detailed phot...

Beautiful old Japanese woven silk uchikake gown in new condition. The size of this gown is small (much shorter) and light in weight. We are not sure how gowns in this style were worn but our humble guess would be that they were either made into jackets for upper class women (style is similar to kosode from late Edo period), Noh custumes or wedding gowns (though the sleeves are short). Subtle but beautiful, will make a great wall decoration. Dimensions: 47 1/2"(120.7cm)W x 61"(154.9cm)L, sle...

A very fine Japanese framed embroidery from the renowned Sozayemon Nishimura Silks and Embroideries, depiction of a row of cherry trees along the edge of a large lake with boats. Absolutely stunning condition and incredible hand-embroidered details with tasteful framing. Late 19th/early 20th century.

Size: (entire frame) 35" L x 1.5" D x 28" H (artwork only) 26" L x 19" H

Japanese silk kimono with shibori style ground, motifs of coins with peonies, kiri leaves, pine trees, and other floral elements against geometric patterns. Splashes of pink add a touch of feminine color to the kimono.

Size: 49" L x 66" H

Thick cotton, Katazome stencil dye, aizome Japanese indigo dye with beni flowers. 70 1/2" x 13". The width changes to 12 1/2 after 39 1/2" where the fabric is torn. One 1/2" round stain (at 20 inches from torn end). Weakened at the seam (visible in some area from reverse side).

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. The color is uneven in some area; small areas show blue than green, some uneven co...

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. Combined with a gold bag and mallet of Dai-koku symbolizing wealth, there is no...

Small furoshiki, made of hand spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. It has tsutsugaki auspicious motifs, "Sho-Chiku- Bai", the pine tree, the bamboo and the plum bloom. In excellent condition. Late 19th early 20th century. W:69cm, L:77cm

Japanese indigo ikat cotton coat, with neutral color sakiori (rag woven) cotton collar, its edges reinforced with white sashiko stitching.

Size: 35.25" L x 36" H

A sample book of wa-sarasa (Japanese sarasa) with 106 fragments on 43 sheets of paper board, mostly made in Meiji period (1869～1912) and some from early Taisho period (1910s). Originally it has 45 sheets, but 2 (3rd and 20th) are lost. The dye techniques are katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and print. The book is published by Kyoto Shoin in Showa 42 (1967). The 4th among limited 60 issues. 27cm x 35cm x 5cm.

Cotton futonji with tea utensil motif, which is hand-drawn with tsutsugaki technique and made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. Futonji with tea utensil motif was produced in the regions where tea ceremony was active such as Iyo (Ehime Pref.), Sanuki (Kagawa Pref.) and Izumo (Shimane Pref.) Tea kettle in the center, chawan (tea bowl), cha-ire (tea container), kamashiki (placement for the tea kettle), sumi-kago (chacoal basket), trivet, flower vase and so on. Late 19th to early 20th c...

Indigo dyed cotton wrapping cloth, furoshiki, from late Meiji Era. The family crest stencil dyed (katazome) into the corner is "anzu-botan" (apricot-peony). L.133cm (52.25") x W.130cm (51").

Possibly made from an old kimono, this sweet drawstring purse charming painted and appliqued scenes of trees, rocks and flowers going around the body of the purse. The bottom shows a country gentleman sitting on a rock under a tree enjoying the mountain view. overall condition is very good, however the fabric sleeve for the drawstring is deteriorated. Purse measures 7" across bottom

Hinagata (sample book of hanten (short jacket) design which is wood-block print. Hinagata is a sample design book and it was for customers when they make orders. The designs are stencil-dyed in the back of hantens which were worn by workers such as shop clerks, fish market workers, firemen and so on. This book is a remake of the original book as the ground paper had many damages so that the original design hantens were cut out and pasted on Japanese paper and newly bound. It has 62 hantens in di...

This is a large antique fukusa, Japanese gift cover, 34 inches long and 26 inches wide, without including the tassels. The lid of the wooden box (hiro buta) that carried gifts was often placed upside down to display the gifts. The length of the Fukusa may have been adjusted for the tray.

The design of this Fukusa is based on the old Japanese folk tale, Yoro(Yohro) Waterfall. The waterfall was known as the Fountain of Youth and instead of water falling, Sake wine was falling. Whoever d...

Large antique furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloth), aizome Japanese indigo dye decorated in sashiko stitches on four corners. 57 1/4" x 61 1/4"

Large Japanese temple cloth woven with cotton and strips of paper, great for a wall decoration. The dimensions are 107" x 47" (271.8cm x 119.4cm). Many things in Japan were made from paper, just like soy sauce was added in almost all cooking. Textiles were no exception. Some monks in Japan still make their own paper for their clothes. There are few beautiful samurai haori jackets made out of paper that still exist today in textile museums (which we have only seen in photos). The paper m...

This is a child kimono worn in the Taisho era. As for this, thin silk expresses a pattern in Shibori. Thin cotton is in this for thermal insulation inside. This does not have a stain and damage. The state is very good. Size 78cm x 70cm (30.7 "x 27.5")

Beautiful Shusu (satin silk) Uchikake kimono from the Meiji period (1868 - 1912). All hand sewn with embroidery and gold couching work - overlaying of threads (real gold wrapped around thread) rather than going in and out of the base fabric.

The dimensions are 50 inches between from tip to tip of the sleeves, 60 inches long and 29 and half for the sleeve length. All the edges and openings are generously stuffed with raw silk. The photos shown here do not capture the true quality of this gow...

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.

Early 1900 Japanese silk fukusa featuring a turtle and a crane. Techniques used to create this wonderful fukusa are sumi-e hand painting, yuzen resist dying, some embroidery, and gold foil couching. On the reverse is red rinzu silk with crane and mons motif. Two original tassels are still intact at the bottom. There is a small cluster of tiny gray spots by the crane, see last photo. Otherwise, in very good condition/excellent, it measures 25” wide x 27” high.

Antique Japanese kimono, made of silk and printed with a design of shells decorated with flowers and mist. The large shells float on an intricate design of small chrysanthemums on a purple ground. Beautiful yellow tones with details in burgundy, green, white and black. Lined with white and yellow cotton with sleeves that are lined in red silk.

Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 58" high x 49" wide

Antique Japanese bandori, peasant's woven back pad for carrying heavy loads. Woven of re purposed cotton cloth, this bandori is outfitted with shoulder straps and is folded on the bottom for extra padding. The back pad is made of cotton from two different textile: a brown striped cotton and light blue and white pattern on cotton. A bandori is made specially for the person carrying the load so it is beautifully unique in it's materials and construction.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926...

Baby's juban (under kimono) handwoven of hemp whose wefts are hand-plied but warps are machine-spun. It is dyed with benibana (safflower). In good condition. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:33cm, L:62cm

This old Japanese hand made sack (basket,bag) was made by a rural farmer or fisherman out of cotton cording. Handle holes were worked into the upper band which would have allowed for the changing of worn out handles. There is obvious wear and fading from use and age. The bag measures almost 11 x 15 inches It is Wonderful old ethnographic example of rural Japanese textile folk art

This is the kimono which a girl wore for the Taisho era period. The pattern is ball and Spinning top and others. A color is pretty, and this is stylish. There are 2.3 places of small stains, but does not stand out. There is no damage. Size 92cm x 81cm (36.2 "x 31.8")

Antique hakama (trousers) worn by a Noh theatre actor. Decorated all over with a design of gold dragons and lattice work on a dark blue ground. Traditional squared form with pleating and wide white cotton ties. These hakama would have been part of the Noh theatre ôguchi (costume).

Age: Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 44" high x 33" wide

Antique Japanese cotton yogi, sleeping kimono for a woman. Thickly padded and decorated with a paste resist and red family crest. More paste resist characters on the front collar. Lined with a dark indigo-dyed cotton.

Age: early 20th century

Dimensions: 50" high x 50" wide

Bandori is the local term in the Shonai area for woven straw and indigo fabric back-pads.It is approximately 80+ years of age, dating to the late Meiji Period. Size is 40" long.

The idea of a Fukusa gift cover comes from the old Japanese tradition of gift presentation. Fukusa began to be decorative as well as practical in the Edo period (1600 to 1868). The appropriate design was chosen for the occasion; for seasonal, ceremonial and later, time of grief when Japan started to face battles again, with the foreign countries this time. This delicate, indirect way of conveying feelings has been in Japanese culture, poems replacing words for occasions, reminiscent of the ...

Very nice old Maru Japanese Obi in excellent condition. Neutral colors throughout the delicate weave of repeat scenes of cart

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 Fukusa Panel Depicting Two Kabuki Actors Performing the Lion Dance. Polychrome and Gilt Threads. A fantastic painting with wonderful movement and lush color on chirimen silk. 26w x 24.5h inches, 66 x 62.25 cm. Framed.

A fine embroidery depicting a group of chickens. Embroideries, known as shishu in Japanese, were done on various fabrics and clothing. It was only later during the late 19th century that embroideries were appreciated for their artistic quality and were often framed or mounted on scrolls. The embroidery on the back contains an inscription which reads: Present ( or gift) September of the tenth year of Taisho (1921) (Presented by) the Imperial government of Japan. Size: Length 16.3" Width 1.5" Hei...

Nobori banners, samurai Yoroi and Kabuto helmets, carps, musha ningyo (warrior doll) were all a part of the display used for Boy's Day (renamed to Children's Day) on May 5th in Japan. They reflect the parents’ wish to inspire their sons in manliness, discipline, bravery and the honor codes that are associated with them.

This is an old Japanese nobori banner with Hideyoshi (Toyotomi), retainers, and a streamer in the background. A golden gourd (yellow dye) with small gourds underneath i...

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"

This is a Japanese silk obi with a painting of men transporting lumber down the river. It is a scene that became obsolete as new technologies, such as trains, trucks and the creations of dams, developed. It is hand painted on silk with an artist’s signature and seal. We will bring more photos once the obi is flattened from the Nagoya style obi – currently, this obi is being worked on (hand sewn) by a professional.

Girl's kimono made of hamp, made in Ohmi region in Shiga prefecture, and it is called Ohmi-jofu. It has kasuri pattern, whose motifs are phoenix, cloud and flower. Warps are machine-spun and wefts are hand-plied. Red cloth inside is silk. Meiji period (1868~1912) In excellent condition. W:97cm, L:107cm

Beni-itajime-zome (board-clamped dyeing with safflower) han-juban (short under kimono). The body part is hand-spun cotton and the sleeves are figured silk and the wrist parts are wool muslin. In good condition but the dirty line in the neck, rips in the front sleeve and some moth holes in the wrists. Late 19th to early 20th century. 125cm x 66cm

It is Indigo dye silk shibori Pattern of impressive and charming sparrow kimono textile of the Taisho era.As for the change of the color of a white part, the paste which I used for dyeing changed.It has a few thin stains. However, The stain does not stand out.It is no damage. size:150cm x 121cm (59.0" x 47.6")