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...

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...

This is “kataginu” (shoulder cloth), only the upper part of kamishimo without a trouser. Kami-shimo simply means top and bottom in Japanese. It was a high ranking samurai’s formal attire when they attended official meetings at the Edo castle. It was worn over kosode (kimono with small sleeves) with trousers. The shoulders are arch shaped and this was the style that developed in the late Edo period (1603-1868). Longer trousers (approx...

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 type of fukusa is a covering placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony between families. A fukusa with the crest decoration is very practical because it can be used for the different occasions. Beautiful old tapestry weave (hand woven). The dimensions: 25 1/2" x 27"

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...

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 carps and nobori Japanese banners, warrior's Yoroi and Kabuto helmets, samurai dolls and swords are all a part of the display used for Boy's Day (renamed Children's Day) on May 5th in Japan. They reflect the parent's wish to inspire their boys in manliness, discipline, bravery and the honor codes which are associated with them.

Originally, Nobori was used in the battle field to identify the troops, some were to show the warriors where their taisho (general) was...

This is an old silk fukusa from Meiji period (1868-1912). This type of fukusa is a covering placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony. Lined with a deep red crepe silk, this fukusa is almost in perfect condition.

Pine trees are considered as sacred in Japan. Here, an ancient pine tree is mostly done with the gold couching, overlaying of threads (wrapped in gold) rather than going in and out of the base fabric...

Please see Trocadero#38274 for details.

This is a beautiful example of an old Kyoto Yuzen dyeing. In this kimono, you can see the white lines around the designs, the very characteristic of Yuzen dye. This is where the rice paste is used to resist the dye and is later washed off. The dye on the silk bleeds. By outlining or covering the design area with the paste, the dye artists can work with the design more freely in detail than in the older pre-Yuzen method, which simply uses dip dying and/or embroidery...

This is a beautiful old Japanese maru obi with the design throughout on front and back. It is the kind of obi that we no longer see them produced. The white area is rich white satin and is whiter than shown in the photos. 12-1/4" wide x 154" long. Early 1900.

Old Kyoto Nishijin obi...

Hemp bag with age, Meiji 24 (1892) and the owner's name, Sahiko (佐彦）、whose warps and wefts are hand-plied. It has very well-done mending and reinforcement stitches, and also a mending patch. It has letters "25 sheets", but it is not clear what was put in. It is from Niigata prefecture. In good condition. W:29.5cm, L:52cm

Cotton cloth with katazome pattern which is called "Narumi-Kongata", imitating Arimatsu-Narumi shibori pattern. It is called "Urumi-zome among craftspeople. It uses plural stencils and requires high dyeing technique. In good condition but has two mending patches for the cut which used to be the neck part and in one side of selvedges. The Meiji period (1868 to 1912). W:33cm, L:180cm

A striking image of an itinerant monk carrying his few earthly possessions though the cedar forest in draped in a mino straw-raincoat and hat, all performed with colored thread in silk embroidery. Behind glass, it has been well protected over the last 100 plus years. The wide dark frame is stained Nara (a form of oak) emulating the arts and crafts style. The inner joints have shrunk, a testament to age. The silk panel is 21.5 x 29 cm (8-1/2 x 11-1/2 inches), the frame 38.5 x 46 x 4.5 cm (15...

Cloth with katazome (stencil-resist dye) which is hand spun and vegetable indigo and pigment dye. In good condition, however slightly colors faded. 19th century. W:32.5cm, L:180cm

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

Two Kome-bukuro (rice bag) made of cotton fragments which are hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye. They are stripes, kasuri and fine katazome (stencil-resist dye). Both have writing with sumi, Echizenya, the shop's name and "Hane" which is located in Shimane prefecture facing to the Japan Sea. Kome-bukuro was used when people dedicated rice or grains to temples or shrines. Both are in excellent condition, bags and strings. 19th to early 20th century. Large one:31cm x 27cm, Small one:23cm x 27cm

Rice bag made of hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye cotton fragments which are kasuri, katazome (stencil-resist dye) stripes etc. It was used when people dedicated rice or other grains to temples or shrines. It has beautiful fine katazome cotton cloth for lining. In good condition but string in the hem is damaged and cord for binding is lost. 19th to early 20th century. W:37cm, H:27.5cm

Rice bag made of fragments of hand-spun cotton with stripes, checks and katazome (stencil-resist-dye), all vegetable indigo and brown dye. The cord is hemp. The square cloth in the bottom is fine and beautiful katazome with "two cranes facing" motif. Kome-bukuro was used when people dedicated rice to temples or shrines. In excellent condition except for a few holes and mending patches. The latter half of the 19th to early 20th century. W:57cm, H:28cm, Bottom:30cm x 28cm.

A bag which is hand-plaited with indigo dye hemp string. It is carried on the back with various items. 19th to early 20th century. One string is cut. W:15cm, L:62cm

Cotton han-juban (short under kimono) with katazome (stencil resist dye), whose motif is a kind of "Seigaiha", the traditional wave pattern. It is hand spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. The collar cloth is also hand-spun cotton dyed with sumi (ink). n good condition but has some parts fade in color. The second half of the 19th century. W:114cm, L:62cm

Cotton cloth with beautiful katazome (stencil-resist dye) with mum motif, which is made of hand spun cotton and vegetable indigo and natural brown dye. In good condition, however colors fades a bit from washing. 19th century. W:35cm, L:168cm

This is an original yosegire hanjyuban made with plenty of silk katazime and silk fabrics from the Edo period. During the Edo period, silk was very expensive, so kimonos were often made without throwing away even the smallest scraps. This item uses plenty of linen thread as the basting thread. The lining is red silk from the Edo period. There are slight stains. there is some damage to the silk stripes. See image. Size: Length 90cm / sleeve to sleeve 127cm

This is a japanese antique tsutsugaki Indigo dye cotton noren textile of taisyo period(1912-1926). There are some light stains but they are not noticeable. There is one repaired part. Size :: Length: 152cm (59.8 inches) / Width :: 98cm / 38.5inch

Asa (hemp or ramie) baby boy's ceremonial kimono, whose wefts and warps are hand plied. It is worn by a newborn baby about one month later of the birth, on the occasion of "Omiya-mairi" that is the first visit to the local shrine wishing for the healthy growth. It is not actually worn but put over a baby. It is hitoe (no lining) kimono, so that it is used in summer. It has beautiful wave and crane motif which is hand painting. In excellent condition. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:80cm, ...

This is a Japanese antique textile indigo dye cotton narumi-Shibori kimono meiji　period. This is a very rare and beautiful item created using 11 different Narumi Shibori techniques. Hand-spun cotton fabric is very thick. There are some very small stains, but they are not noticeable. Condition is good with no damage. Size: Length 153cm / sleeve to sleeve 141cm

Outside cloth of yogi which is one kind of futon in the shape of kimono, made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. It has tsutsugaki (glue-resist dyeing) "takara-zukushi" (various treasures) design. In good condition as a whole but has three mending patches in front and a few stains. Meiji period (1868~1912) W:148cm, L:129cm

This is a very elegant ramie summer children's kimono from the Edo period. The sleeves have a hand-painted bamboo pattern. The family crest is the rare mitsumorikumikaku. There are no stains or damage, and it is very carefully made.size: Length :90cm (35.4inch) / sleeve to sleeve :83cm (32.6inch)

Girl's kimono made of hand-spun cotton with flower motif which is Yuzen-zome (hand-painting). The ground cloth is benibana (safflower) dye. Benibana was grown in Yamagata prefecture in Edo period, and it was very precious. It was traded to Kyoto and dyed there for kosode kimono or others for women of a family of high-ranking samurai or merchants. Benibana dye has faded in upper back, but generally in good condition. Late Edo period (mid 19th century) W122cm, L:124cm

This is his Tsutsugaki item, which is impressive with its very surreal pine and bamboo designs drawn in Tsutsugaki during the Edo period. The young pine tree in the center of the picture is drawn in an unbelievably large and surreal manner, and the bamboo, which is also impossibly deformed, is drawn in the background. This is quite an unconventional item among the indigo-dyed items of the Edo period. There are three areas that have been repaired, but the discoloration is slight and not noticeabl...

Sample book of the Japanese sarasa, whose title is "Kame Jirushi Sarasa Book" It has 56 fragments of silk gauze with katazome (stencil-resist dye) designs. Generally, in good condition. Early 20th century. W:22cm, H:16cm

Asa (hemp) furoshiki with four owner's names, hand-written with sumi(ink). Both warps and wefts are hand-plied. It has some holes and stains, however it is washed. Probably from Nagano prefecture or Tohoku district. The second half of the 19th century. W:126cm, L:132cm

Amazing boro made of hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye cotton fragments. It used to be the lining of yogi, which is one kind of futon, in the shape of kimono. It is from the Japan Sea side district in Kansai, such as Fukui or Kyoto. It is partly sewn with hemp yarn. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:95cm, L:165cm

Maekake (apron) made of Ohmi jofu which is hand-woven of hemp with kasuri pattern. Weft kasuri yarns are clamp-board dye, so that it has bar-code like white lines in both selvedges. In excellent condition except for both white cotton belts have dirt. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:66cm, L73cm