This is Japanese EDo Indigo dye asamai-shibori dangawari-dye kimono. All asamai-shibori was made from the hand. The indigo dye is indigo of nature. It is a technology that dangawari is high. It is very charming. This was washed in water. There is a little stain. There is no damage. The state is very good. The techniques of several kinds of shibori are expressed in this one kimono. It is very beautiful, and wonderful. It is thick cotton. The part of the sleeve is fabric at the Showa era...

This is Japanese Antique Edo Horse 's string Hemp katazome rare. There are a stain and damage. The string of the same harness as the material pavilion of the Honda family in the Kanazawa city is exhibited. However, it has not seen in another. It is a very valuable excellent article. Please add to your collection. Size:302cm x 27cm (118" x10.6")

Antique uchishiki, Japanese alter cloth, embroidered on silk satin with Chinese theme, “The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove”. Probably from late 18th to mid 19th century. 26 3/8" x 25" (67cm x 63 1/2cm).

Condition: This is a beautiful antique textile even with some obvious damage and wear, still solid with a thick cotton backing. The wear is seen particularly on both ends of the design. This quality of needle work is seldom seen.

This is samurai's battle surcoat in Edo period. It is a family crest of the deer horn and the character in the cotton of the indigo dye. There is a motif of Maru also in surroundings of the skirt. It is very a battle surcoat of Chatami. There are discoloration in the plain wood cotton and the white ground of the collar.There is no damage. It is very good. It is a very valuable excellent article. In this item, the family crest (mark of the deer horn) in the part of the back is tsutsugsaki...

This is a horse cover in Edo period. It is very cotton of wonderful tsutsugaki. The touch of cotton is very nice. The wave and the motif of the family crest are very impressive with the rabbit. There is a little small hole. However, the state is very good. This is the one in the Tohoku region. size:127cm50" x 57cm/22.4"

Antique Yogi (Japanese futon bed cover), hand drawn in Tsutsugaki paste resist dye with an auspicious design of a phoenix (ho-o) bird and paulownia tree. The family mon (crest) is a wild goose. Meiji Period (1868-1912). Approximately 59" wide x 74 1/4" long.

The phoenix is a mythological bird known to appear during times of peace and prosperity. It symbolizes immortality, resurrection, and life after death. Its appearance is said to resemble a heron, eagle, and peacock...

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”

This is boro sashiko noragi hanten textile at Meiji era (1868-1912). It is very nice touch of the indigo dye cotton. It is very charming. The indigo dye of hemp has adhered back. It is exactly a work of art. Size:94cm/37"x 86cm/33.9"

This is a gorgeous hagi-isho juban ( under kimono ) which is made of many kinds of silk such as plain silk with katazome ( stencil-dyeing ), silk crepe with itajime ( board-clamp-dyeing ) and katazome ( stencil-dyeing ) and shibori ( tie-dyeing ), wild silk and so on. This piece was exhibited in the show in Japan. It has thin cotton lining inside. Late Edo or early Meiji period ( ca. mid 19th C to early 20th C ). In excellent condition except for a few tiny moth holes...

A daimyo’s firefighting wool jacket with a Kiri-no-mon crest, chest protector baring the same crest. It has a silk liner decorated with old marble dye. Dated from late Edo period (1603-1868),

Japanese could not produce wool of their own during the Edo period. Totally depending on Nanban trading, wool was pretty rare and pricey commodity. The liner for this jacket is also unusual. This is our first and only antique marble dyed fabric ever...

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’.

Here in this Japanese fukusa, a well dressed man on the red car...

A Japanese priest's silk ouhi (Buddhist priest's ritual arm - shoulder covering), the green/gray/black brocade silk with an overall design of cranes, pine, stylized shells, verlaid with white line divisions and asymetric gold thread kikyo (Chinese bell flower) designs, pale pink silk liner. Late Edo period. Dimensions - 11 1/8" x 54".

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".

This is donza sashiko hanten at the Meiji era. It is sashiko hanten donza that the fishermen's boss in Kurashiki used. It is the valuable one in the market without. There is a little getting untied part.There is a thin stain. Very exact sashiko is made from the hand. It is wonderful and beautiful. The state is very good. Please add to your collection. Size 98cm/38.6" x 121cm/47.6"

This is fireman's sashiko hanten coat in Edo period. It is a motif of a big spider and the petal of cherry blossoms and the person of the kabuki. It is very impressive and it is bold.The petal of cherry blossoms that adhere to the cobweb is very fantastic. There is a little part that was able to be rubbed. However, the state is very good. There is neither stain nor damage. The lining is an indigo dye. It is sashiko hanten coat of a very valuable fireman. Please add to your collection. ...

Beautiful Japanese kesa made from a very high quality silk brocade. The work shown on this kesa is truly amazing. The gold picks up light easily and when it does, it changes the whole kesa to a golden color. The decoration is an auspicious floral design of hosoge (ancient imaginary flowers said to bloom in heaven) and karakusa. It will be impossible to produce a kesa of this quality today because of the steep decline in the quality of materials and workmanship since the time that this kesa w...

This is horse cover textile at the Meiji era.(1868-1912) It draws in the indigo dye by the technique of tsutsugaki. It is a very vivid, impressive motif. It is wonderful horse cover textile. This is the one in the Tohoku region. It uses it at the wedding. This is rolled in horse's trunk. The bride rides on this horse. There is little damage in the edge. There is a little stain. However, it doesn't stand out. Size:488cm/192.1" x 64cm/25.2"

Antique Japanese Linen Banner Commemorating the pivotal Kawanakajima War of the Sengoku Period, a period rich in samurai history. War ships are depicted bearing the crests of the Takeda, Maeda, and Kato clans. A vibrant and powerful piece of Japanese history. 70.5 x 30.5 inches, 179 x 77.5 cm.

This fireman's sashiko coat is the one in Edo period. (1850) It is dragon's motif in the indigo dye cotton. It is very impressive. There is damage in the collar. 82cm x122cm (32.1" x47.8") sashiko hanten are the coats worn by firemen for protecting their bodies. Some have pictures,some are of all repeated patterns, and the others are unfigured indigo ones or ones with a medalion on the back. It is a polychrome in the cotton ground that is black, is gray, blue, blue, white, beige, etc. A bol...

This is indigo dye fireman's shirushi hanten at the Meiji era.(1870~1910) It is tsutsugaki in the indigo dye cotton. Shirushi hanten of this length is very valuable. It is a very impressive motif. There is a little repair mark. However, the state is very good. It is touch of the cotton of a warm indigo dye. It is a wonderful, beautiful excellent article. Please add to your collection.

Antique silk Kesa, an outer garment worn by Japanese Buddhist priests, cotton liner, padded with paper, late Edo to early Meiji period. Dimensions: 76 1/2" x 43 1/2"

Antique Japanese maiwai, katazome stencil dye on cotton, padded and in excellent condition, 51"(4'2") x 51", circa Meiji (1868-1912) to Taisho period (1912-1926). This maiwai is old but has been well maintained, pretty clean condition without any odor. One damaged area (did not go through to the liner) was repaired with very small stitches (photo #9). The photo #10 shows the area before it was repaired with stitches and filled with red color.

Maiwai was the pride of Japanese fisherme...

Unique old Japanese yogi (kimono-shaped futon bed cover) from Kaga, a weeping willow tree with a butterfly family crest, 57" x 72", Meiji Period (1868-1912).

Kaga, located in today's Kanazawa prefecture area, was known as "Kaga One-million Koku", the wealthiest domain next to the Tokugawa Shogun family during the Edo period (1603-1868). Each domain was assessed its wealth measured by "koku." Most samurai received stipends in koku. One koku was equal to the amount of rice to feed a m...

Furoshiki (Wrapping Cloth), Indigo-dyed with reinforced sashiko-embroidered corners. Additional center reinforcement panel. A few areas of repair mending and some small holes (please see detail images.)Early 20th Century. 79"(201cm) x 74"(188cm.) The contemporary image of furoshiki brings to mind a pleasantly printed small cloth the size of large handkerchief, used for wrapping one's bento (lunch box) or a small gift when visiting a friend. It is rare these days to see this type of furoshiki whi...

Katazome Futonji, Stencil-dyed Bed Cover. Chrysanthemum Pattern. Four-panel indigo-dyed cotton bed cover with pattern of chrysanthemum flowers and leaves. Good condition with some tears, including a 19” vertical tear (see photos.) Top cover only, no wadding or backing. Ca. late-1800’s, early Meiji Era. W.52”(132cm) x L.66”(168cm.) Futonji, bed covers, were a common bridal trousseau item in feudal and early-modern Japan. They may have been made by the bride before marriage (in very rur...

E-Gasuri (Kasuri) Futonji, Picture Ikat-woven Bed Cover; Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. Four-panel kon (dark-blue) indigo-dyed cotton bed cover, woven with e-gasuri (picture) ikat technique creating images of Otafuku (goddess of happiness & mirth) and Plovers, squares, and crosses. An excellent example of the picture ikat tradition of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture on the north end of Kyushu Island. Top cover only, no backing or wadding, good condition. 7” (18cm) tear to one end of cloth. Ca. 19...

LE-30 Kasuri Futonji, Ikat-woven Bed Cover. Three-panel kon (dark-blue) indigo-dyed cotton bed cover, woven with kasuri technique creating patterns of squares (well frames) and crossed points. Top cover only, no backing or wadding, very good condition. Ca. 1900. L.66”(168cm) x W.39”(99cm.) Futonji, bed covers, were a common bridal trousseau item in feudal and early-modern Japan. They may have been made by the bride before marriage (in very rural areas,) or more likely commissioned by the br...

Four-panel kon (dark-blue) indigo-dyed cotton bed cover, woven with kasuri technique creating patterns of squares (well frames.) Top cover only, no backing or wadding; good condition, minor repair to one corner. Ca. 1900. L.54”(137cm) x W.52”(132cm.) Futonji, bed covers, were a common bridal trousseau item in feudal and early-modern Japan. They may have been made by the bride before marriage (in very rural areas,) or more likely commissioned by the bride’s family. The bed cover was often ...

Old silk kesa, an outer garment worn by Japanese Buddhist priests. Kesas were originally made from old scraps of material donated to the temples. The scraps became finer and quite luxious with 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 could also mean that the wealthier temples ended up collecting better fabrics or were able to send out for expensive custom made kesas.

Japanese Kesa, buddhist priests' robe, silk brocades, excellent condition. Circa early 1900 to 1940. Dimensions: 46" x 75"

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.

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

Old Japanese gift cover, fukusa with a black mask and a mask box, bells, hat and fan used in the Noh(No) play, Okina (the sacred old man). The Dance of Okina start with a comtemporary prayer for 'a peaceful reign over the land' Okina wearing a white mask. The black mask is worn by the Kyogen actor in the third dance, "Sanbaso". Embroidered on satin, lined with red crepe silk. Dimensions: 28" X 29"

Sakiori, or "rag weave", was a necessity of many common people in old Japan, especially those of the NE Japan (Tohoku region) which was known for its harsh climate and living conditions. This item is a late Meiji piece from the region showing wonderful color combination, and sporting a few repair patches from its long life. L.144cm(56.5") x W.34cm(13.5").

Indigo dyed (aizome) cotton "yutan", or covering cloth, stencil dyed with family crest of pine boughs flanking a "koto bashira", the bridge of a koto musical instrument. L.150cm (59") x W.129cm (50"). Such textiles were commissioned for use as bridal dowry pieces and covered the items taken to the new bride's home. The family crest may have been that of the bride's or groom's family, or possibly a combination of the two, depending on the rank or status of the families. Textile dyers in South...

Meiji Era futon-ji; indigo dyed cotton with tsutsugaki (free-hand drawn resist) image of the Three Friends of Winter: Pine, Bamboo, and Plum. L.150cm(59") x W.128cm(50"). Such bedding covers were given as part of a bride's dowry, commissioned with auspicious images or a family crest by the bride's family. This theme of Pine, Bamboo, and Plum was especially auspicous for a newly married couple, with each element having its own characteristic way of overcoming hardship (the cold winter.) The free-...