This is a samurai's jinbaori which is worn over armors. The ground cloth is wool fabric called "goro or goro fukuren" which had been imported from western countries such as England or Holland from 16th and 17th centuries. It has patchwork crest "maru-ni-yaguruma mon" in the back. The front panels and the collar are made of silk brocade and the lining is plain silk. The design of the jinbaori was modeled on the clothing of the Spanish or the Portuguese who came to Japan around 16th century...

This is a futonji made of hand-spun cotton and has design of the tea ceremony utensils such as chagama (kettle), chasen (tea whisk), sumikago (charcoal bamboo basket), chaire (tea container), chatsubo ( tea jar ), hikiusu ( tea mill ) and kakejiku ( scroll ) etc. They are hand-drawn with tsutsugaki technique which uses rice paste as resist and hand-drawn with a cone shape tool. It is dyed with natural indigo and vegetable yellow color. In excellent condition. Meiji period ( 1868~1912 )...

This is a hand-spun cotton cloth with katazome ( stencil-dyeing ) spiral pattern and dyed with natural indigo. It was probably a panel of futonji. The stencil paper is rather short one ( you can see the joint lines between the stencils ). In excellent condition except for a few pin holes. The latter half of the 19th century. 33cm x 184cm

This is a kariginu made of figured silk with hand-painted dragon and cloud motif. Kariginu used to be a casual wear of the court nobles since Heian period ( ca. the end of 8th to the early 11th century ), but originally it was worn at the hunting ( kari ), so it is called Kariginu. It is not clear where it was worn, probably for a stage. Late 19th or early 20th century. It has wear, rips and much damaged. 144cm x 164cm

This is a furoshiki ( wrapping cloth ) made of hand-spun cotton dyed with natural indigo. It has "Maru-ni-narabiya( two arrows in a circle )" mon ( crest ). It is worn out and has two mending patches, a few brownish stains and many small holes. Late 19th to early 20th century. 102cm x 105cm

This is a futonji made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable dyed ( natural indigo & yellow ). It has beautiful katazome ( stencil-dyeing ) mum motif. In excellent condition except for tiny cotton fragments stuck in the back and some uneven dye parts ( not stains or dirt ). Late19th to early 20th century. 122cm x 174cm

This is a man's wallet made of hand-woven silk brocade with antique coin motif. It also has a hand-braided silk cord and a silver clasp. It has lining made of hand-woven figured silk satin dyed with benibana ( safflower ). It is possible that the outside as well as the inside cloth are imported from China. In good condition for this age except for wear in the upper corners. Edo period (the former half of the 19th century), or a bit later ( early Meiji ). 19.5cm x 9cm

This is a "yu-age", a cotton towel for a newborn baby. It is made of hand-spun cotton and dyed with natural indigo with motifs of a turtle and a crane, which are hand-drawn with the tsutsugaki technique. Originally the white triangle part in the corner might have been dyed with benibana ( safflower ) which is said to protect a baby from eye trouble, however it is gone by heavy washing, or it is just undyed. It is from Izumo region in Shimane prefecture facing to the Japan Sea. In good condition...

This is a "yu-age", a cotton towel for a newborn baby. It is made of hand-spun cotton and dyed with natural indigo with motifs of a turtle and a crane, which are hand-drawn with the tsutsugaki technique. The red color in the corner is dyed with benibana ( safflower ) which is said to protect a baby from eye trouble, however it is much faded by heay washing. It is from Izumo region in Shimane prefecture facing to the Japan Sea. In good condition except for a hole in the corner...

This is a lined woman's kimono made of pongee silk and has fine komon ( literally small pattern ) which is katazome ( paper stencil-dyeing ). It also has katazome pine trees in the right front hem. The komon pattern was originally used for the samurai's kamishimo ( top and bottom worn over the kimono ), which was their formal wear and has been commonly used for the woman's kimono later. In good condition but has a hole in one of the wrist and some stains in the lining...

This is a large size cover ( probably for a chest ) or a banner with the names of the owner and the town which are drawn with tsutsugaki technique. It is made of thick hand-spun cotton and dyed with natural indigo. In excellent condition. The late 19th or early 20th century. 220cm x 186cm

This is a woman's silk kimono with fine katazome ( stencil-dyeing ) stripes pattern. It is rare as such fine stripes are not woven but katazome. The kimono is made of handwoven plain silk and the lining is made of a few kinds of pongee silk dyed with benibana ( safflower ) as well as natural indigo. It has lightly lined with silk cotton in the wrists and hems...