Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Textiles (152)

Katsugi or Kazuki which is worn over the head down and fully covers the body, which is made of hemp, whose wefts and warps are hand-plied. Originally, the kazuki was worn by a noble woman when she went out from Heian to Kamakura period (about 9th to 13th century) over kimono. The collar is lowered to cover a head. This one is probably made in early Meiji period (the latter half of the 19th century) in Shonai region in Yamagata Prefecture and worn at the wedding...

Fireman's hanten made of thick cotton and hand-stitched sashiko (quilting). It has hand painted "Edo Machi Hikeshi" (town fireman) with "Matoi" which was hold by fireman to show his own "Kumi", brigade. It also has hand painted birds and waves design inside. 19th century. In good condition. W:118cm, L:91cm

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

Two pairs of fireman's gloves made of cotton and hand-stitched sashiko. Long ones are used but in good condition. Short one look almost new. The second half of the 19th century. Long gloves L:40cm, W:17cm. Short gloves L:24cm, W:14cm

Kajibanten (fireman's jacket) with sashiko, made of cotton. It has hand-drawn "shachi" motif, which is a mythical carp with the head of a lion and the body of a fish and it is an auspicious protecter. Generally, in good condition but some wear in the neck and brownish stain near hem. 19th century. W:122cm, L:87cm

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...

Hemp furoshiki with tsutsugaki tai (sea bream) and bamboo design, whose wefts and warps are hand plied. The family crest is Maruni-Katabami-Mon. Katabami is perennial plant, named oxalis. Hand-sewn but both hems are machine sewn. The sewing machine was already imported in late Edo period and probably it was used widely in Meiji period (1868∼1912). In good condition except for a few spots. Meiji period. Made in Kyushu. W:95cm, L:110cm

"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...

Cotton cloth, called "yu-age”, which is used for a newborn baby. It is ordered by parents of a mother as a congratulatory gift. It has tsutsugaki auspicious motifs, such as a crane, a turtle, pine tree, plum blooms and bamboos. Red part in the top corner is for wiping baby's face, because red color is thought to be good for baby's eyes. It is from Izumo region in Shimane prefecture. In good condition, but the red and indigo blue are a bit faded. Meiji period (1868∼1912）65㎝ x 103cm

Amazing boro sodenashi (sleeveless) noragi, whose ground cloth as well as mending patches are mostly vegetable indigo dye cotton cloth. Some of sashiko yarns are indigo dye hemp. Late 19th century. It is from Niigata prefecture. W:62cm, L:80cm

Tokimono (kimono textile, unseamed and washed) of unlined summer kimono with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) Ryusui-mon (running water) design. It is made of hemp and gauze weave. Two pieces of cloth for bodies have tow slits (10cm) in the middle, for necks. Generally, in good condition but one panel, one front side has some light stain, however not serious from outside, and also one of a sleeve has a brown spot. Early 20th century...

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.

Floor cushion cover (zabuton-gawa) made of choma (ramie) whose warps and wefts are hand-plied. It has beautiful katazome (stencil-resist-dye) bamboo motif. The white ground katazome is called "Jishiro" which is rather rare than indigo ground one. It has also nice cloth with stripes for lining, whose warps are cotton and wefts are ramie. Probably made in Echigo, now Niigata prefecture. In excellent condition. The second half of the 19th century. 64cm x 68.5cm

Futonji (bedding) with tsutsugaki phoenix and paulownia tree design which is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye and colored with pigments. Phoenix is an imaginary and sacred bird by Chinese lore which perches on paulownia tree and eats fruits of bamboo. Tsutsugaki technique is excellent with fine freehand line. In excellent condition. Meiji period. 134cm x 162cm

Kake-fukusa, a gift cover, used on the occasion of auspicious events. It is made of tapestry weave silk with two performers motif, one is wearing Daikoku costume with a gavel. Two men look Kado-tsuke, strolling musicians or performers who play dancing and music in front of houses and get some money. In good condition but damage in the black Eboshi (hat) of the man with a fan. Meiji period (1868~1912) 62cm x 67cm

Kake-fukusa which is used to cover a gift on the occasion of auspicious events. It is made of tapestry weave silk with auspicious omen motifs, pine tree, plum tree with bloom and bamboo. Generally, in good condition except for a rift of the black yarn in the pine tree circle and some stains in the blue ground, and also three holes in the red silk lining in the back. Meiji period (1868~1912) 67cm x 72cm

Kake-Fukusa, a gift cover made of tapestry weave silk with carp and stream design. It is used to cover a gift on the auspicious event. The family crest (kamon) is Umebachi-mon. Four tassels are metal yarn. Generally, in good condition, but has light stains in blue ground and white waves. Meiji period (1868~1912) 63xm x 63cm

Han-gappa which is a kind of jacket worn over kimono. Wefts are silk yarn and warps look cotton yarn. The collar is made of black wool which might be imported, and straps are made of wool cloth and vegetable indigo dye silk cords. In good condition except for a few moth holes in the wool collar and a rip in the shoulder. The second half of the 19th century. 129cm x 98cm

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

Dochugi made of kudzu fiber for wefts and cotton yarn for warps. Dochugi is a kind of haori worn over kimono and kudzu-fu one is worn in summer. Kudzufu has been produced mainly in Kakegawa in Shizuoka prefecture since 13th century. It was used for hakama (pants), kamishimo and dochugi. The collar and one of straps of this dochugi are replaced. straps have damages and several pin holes in the back and a cut (3cm) in front. It has a slit for a sword in the left side...

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...

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

Hemp cloth for child's ceremonial kimono with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and hand-painting, the technique is called Kata-Yuzen. The weft and warp are hand plied. Both long cloths have cuts in the center for the neck and front cloth is narrower than back cloth. Generally, in good condition except for a bit of color fading. 19th century. Two short pieces, W:35.6cm, L:49cm, A short piece, W:35cm x 134cm, Two long pieces for a body part, W:35cm &27.5cm, L:236cm

Kataginu, a top part of kamishimo which is a formal wear of samurai, worn over summer kimono. It is made of hemp and vegetable indigo dye. The weaving technique is "mojiri-ori" (warp crossing). Family crest design is faded but in good condition. 19th century. 66cm x 66cm

Cotton futonji made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. It has tsutsugaki auspicious motifs such as crane, turtle, plum blossom, bamboo and pine tree. Tsutsugki technique is excellent. In good condition but has a mending patch causing the lacking part of design and re-sawn by machine, a mending patch and also a snag (2cm) in the upper part. 19th century. W:130cm, L:186cm

Kicho made of kosode (meaning kimono with small opening of wrists) which is made of silk damask dyed with beni (safflower). All embroideries are also vegetable dye silk yarn and gold yarn. Kicho is a kind of screen used as blinder, wind guard and partition. It was used in the house of the aristocrats since Heian period (late 8th to 11th century). This one is recycled from kosode kimono possibly late Edo or early Meiji period (mid to late 19th century. The lining is also beni dyed silk damask...

Furoshiki (wrapping cloth) with tsutsugaki auspicious motifs of seven treasures (takara-zukushi), which is made of hand-woven cotton and vegetable indigo dye. Tsutsugaki is paste-resist-dye and colors are added with mostly pigments. Treasures are: sacred jems, cloves, a lucky mullet, a hiding hat, a coat, citruses and so on. It is made in Kyushu in Meiji period (1868～1912)　In good condition except for three mending patches and some tiny holes. 94cm x 124cm

Han-juban, short under kimono, made of hand-spun cotton and dyed with benibana (safflower)...

Fireman's hat with hand-stitched sashiko (quilting). The outside cloth is dyed with vegetable indigo and the lining is dyed with natural brown. Two belts are recycled from old cotton cloth with katazome. In good condition. Meiji period (1868～1912). W:33cm, L:55cm

Bag made of taima or choma (hemp or ramie) whose warp and weft are hand-plied. It has the business mark and the year, Meiji 40 (1908) and the owner's name. Also, it has the place, Kusu-machi in Oita prefecture in Kyushu. In excellent condition. W:33.5cm, L:106cm

Large furoshiki made of hand-spun cotton with tsutsugaki design which are auspicious motifs, such as fukura suzume (sparrow), bamboo, pine tree. plum flower and scrolls. Vegetable indigo and natural brown dye. In good condition except for some brown color faded parts and a rip (2cm). The second half of the 19th century. 130cm x 140cm

Kurume kasuri futonji (bedding) with geometric pattern. Kurume kasuri was invented by Inoue Den around 1800, a woman lived in Kurume in Fukuoka prefecture in Kyushu. This futonji is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. Weaving of Kurume kasuri changed from handloom to machine weaving around 1883, so it may be woven before 1883. In excellent condition Late 19th century. 130cm x 144cm

Futonji with tsutsugaki (paste-resist-dye with free-hand)) auspicious motifs, such as crane, treasure ball, plum flower, bamboo, pine, fan etc. It is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. In excellent condition except for a mending patch and a few tiny holes (4mm x 4mm). Meiji period (1968～1912). 126cm x 148cm.

Huge cotton cloth with dynamic and vivid Shishi (lion), peonies, waves and tachibana (citrus) with tsutsugaki (glue resist dye). The tsutsugaki technique is excellent and lines are very smooth and powerful by a prominent craftsperson. Judging from the shape and size, it might have been used for "Shishimai" (lion dance) at the festival, held in Fukui, Toyama or Ishikawa Prefecture. In excellent condition. Meiji period (1969～1912)

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

Three baby's kimonos, all three have lining with thin cotton for warmth. Two kimonos in yellow and brown stripes are from Akita prefecture where is the product place of Akita-hachijo, which is plain weave tsumugi (pongee silk) dyed with vegetable yellow and brown. Two of them have charm made of silk crepe in the back. Some of kimono for a baby or a child have charms in the back as evils believed to come from the back. The red kimono is made of cotton with katazome. Both Akita-hachijo have cotton...