Catalog (416)

Shima-cho, a sample book of cotton stripes with 182 fragments which are mostly hand-spun and vegetable dye. The book is "daifuku-cho", a record book of a merchant. It has the age Keio 2nd, 1866. 11 pages with fragments. The second half of the 19th century. 16cm x 22cm

Lined woman's kimono made of high quality silk crepe with geometric pattern which is katazome (stencil-resist-dye). In good condition except for a few minor stains. 1920s or 30s. 124cm x 148cm

Silk meisen kimono with colorful geometric stripes. It has thin cotton lining and red silk cloth in the hem of sleeves. In good condition except for a few mending patches in the lining. 1930s. 124cm x 150cm

A bag made of asa (hemp) and dyed with kakishibu (persimmon tannin). Warp and weft are hand-plied. It has and cotton lining. Late 19th to early 20th century. 27cm x 60cm

A bag made of hand-spun cotton with shibori (tie-dye) and katazome (stencil-resist-dye) pattern which is vegetable indigo dye. It has cotton lining with kasuri pattern which is also hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye and thinly padded with cotton. Generally in good condition except for a few stains. The first half of the 20th century. 30cm x 41cm

A piece of Iyo-zome cloth which was futonji (bedding). It is made of hand-spun cotton and has katazome (stencil-resist-dye) pattern. The name Iyo-zome is originated from Iyo sudare (bamboo screen) since the pattern looks like wood grain by looking through two layers of them. Stripes are dyed with two katagami (stencil paper), one is vegetable indigo and the other is natural brown dye. Two katagami are dyed by displacing them so that they make wood grain like pattern. Iyo-zome was very popular in...

A piece of Iyo-zome cloth which was futonji (bedding). It is made of hand-spun cotton and has katazome (stencil-resist-dye) pattern. The name Iyo-zome is originated from Iyo sudare (bamboo screen) since the pattern looks like wood grain by looking through two layers of them. Stripes are dyed with two katagami (stencil paper), one is vegetable indigo and the other is natural brown dye. Two katagami are dyed by displacing them so that they make wood grain like pattern. Iyo-zome was very popular in...

Omi-e-kasuri (pictorial kasuri) with double kasuri pine and bamboo motif. It is handwoven of taima (hemp) and weft yarn with pine tree pattern is clamp-board dye so that the textile has white bar-code like lines in both selvedges. Both choma (ramie) and taima (hemp) textiles were woven from 12th century in Omi region in Shiga prefecture, but kasuri textiles were woven of taima (hemp). In excellent condition but the white lining has light stains and very light two spots in the upper back. Late 19...

Cotton cloth with kasuri Yabane (plume) pattern which is handwoven and vegetable indigo dye. Warps look machine spun but wefts are hand-spun yarn. It has very thick texture, probably domestically handwoven. The first half of the 20th century. 148cm x 136cm

Cotton cloth with tsutsugaki flower motifs which is hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye. Originally it might have been used as 'yutan' (cover for drawers or a chest) with crests, however this one is used for futon cover as it has cotton dusts in the back. In excellent condition except for a minor beige stain in the white part. The second half of the 19th century. 160cm x 65cm

Three pieces of wood plates with red and black urushi (lacquer). The bottom two are same ones but the top one is a bit different. Generally in good condition but have some minor flaws. Top: 10.3cm x 3cm, Bottom two: 10cm x 2.5cm

A case for hemp seed made of hechima, sponge gourd, one kind of squash. It has writing "hemp seed" and the year "Showa 9", 1934. It has beautiful color of urushi and kakishibu by aging. L:83cm, Diameter:12cm

A basket made of bamboo strips and mountain grapevine which is a machete case. It is brought with a mountain worker. In good condition but has a few breaks near bottom. The first half of the 20th century. H:26cm, W:12cm, 4cm

A basket made of akebi (Akebia quinata) vine which is from Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. In excellent condition, no break. The first half of the 20th century. H:22cm, W:30cm, D:20cm

Rare hat made of rice straw and indigo dye cotton cloth which is hand-spun. It was worn by a hunter or a worker in the mountain. From Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku. Generally in good condition. The first half of the 20th century. L:52cm (indigo cloth 42cm ), W:32cm

Wood Sumikiri-bon with red urushi. Summikiri means a tray whose four corners are cut. Four sides have painted in Negoro style which has partly black urushi. Used and some scratches and chips in both sides . Late 19th to early 20th century. 36.5cm x 36.5cm x 3.5cm

Asa (hemp) noren (shop curtain) with "Mitsui" which is a logo of a noted general trading company and was a successful kimono textile dealer in Edo period. Both warp and weft are hand-plied and all hand-sewn. In good condition and has some wear on the selvedge from heavy use and washing. Late 19th early 20th century. W:144cm, L:132cm

A cloth made of 4 pieces of cotton cloth with sashiko which are vegetable indigo dye and hand-spun cotton. The sashiko yarn is cotton. 20th century. 62cm x 55cm

Tenmokujawan, a tea bowl which is mended with kintsugi with seigaiha (wave pattern) makie. Tenmokujawan is a pottery tea bowl which is fired with Tenmoku glaze (iron glaze). It is made in Seto in Aichi prefecture, one of places where copies of Chinese potteries were manufactured. 17th or 18th century. Diameter:11.8cm, H:5.8cm

Amazing boro which used to be noragi (work wear). It is made of many fragments of vegetable indigo dye and hand^spun cotton cloth. It is from cold areas such as Tohoku or Japan Sea Side where cotton could not be cultivated and cotton cloth for kimono was expensive so that people bought fragments which were brought from warm areas such as Shikoku , Kandsai or Chubu districts. The second half of the 19th century. Measurement: Approx. 160cm x 150cm

Cotton cloth which used to be obi (sash) for a casual kimono. It has hand-drawn tsutsugaki design. It was "Nagoya obi" which was invented in early 20th century to make it easier to tie in the traditional style. In good condition but has folded line in the center (about a half length ) and some stains in the back. Mid 20th century. 32.5cm x 4m28cm

Uma-gake (horse cover) made of hand-spun cotton and has hand-drawn tsutsugaki design whose motifs are hyotan (gourd), tassel and kanji letters. Letters can be either the place or horse's name. This colorful one was used for a festival or a ceremony. It has red cotton lining. In excellent condition. 19th century. 31.5cm x 2m36cm The last image is one hint how uma-gake was used from the woodblock print, ukiyo-e by Katsushika Hokusai (1760～1849).

Han-juban (short under kimono) made of hand-spun cotton and katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and shibori (tie-dye) pattern which are vegetable indigo dye. Shibori is made in Yokote in Akita prefecture. Late 19th to early 20th century. 56cm x 59cm

A fragment of cotton cloth with tsutsugaki turtle and crane design which is an auspicious motif. The cloth is hand-spun cotton and natural dye. It is probably a fragment of nobori (banner). It has calligraphy in one of the hems, but not readable. In good condition. The first half of the 19th century. 32cm x 74.5cm

Basket for backpack made of strips of mountain cherry bark. It has cotton print and check lining (upper part only) and silk belt. Outer side is in good condition but the other side has breaks and loose parts. The first half of the 20th century. W:36cm, L:32cm, H:7cm

A baby carrier belt made of indigo dye cotton for warp and washi (Japanese handmade paper) yarn for weft. It is made in Shonai region in Yamagata district in Tohoku. In good condition with beautiful tassels but the seam loose part in one selvedge (30cm). The first half of the 20th century. 13.5cm x 3m60cm

Kohai, a halo made of metal (copper). Very little bit of gold plate is left. 19th century. L:38.5cm, W:13cm

Two Saga-men, Okame and Hyottoko which were sold in front of temples in Saga region in Kyoto since late Edo period (the first half of the 19th century). They were sold as charms against bad luck and evil but interrupted in early 20th century and revived in 1950s. Both are made in late 19th to early 20th century. Many layers of wastepaper are pasted on the plaster model and colored. Hyottoko-men is not finished. Okame mask has some paint came off. Okame: L:20cm, W:13.5cm Hyottoko: L:18cm, W:14...

Chogappo made of fragments of white choma (ramie) whose weft and warp are hand-plied. Natural color fragments are mixture of choma and silk. "Pojagi" is the general name for the wrapping cloth and "chogappo" is one kind of pojagi which is patchworked with asa (mainly choma, ramie) fragments.(reference source: "Korean Embroidery and Wrapping Cloths from the Choson Dynasty" published by Japan Art & Culture Association in 1995). The first half of the 20th century. In excellent condition. 67cm x 67c...

Two kitchen cloth (fukin) made of thin cotton cloth with sashiko whose needlework is delicately well done. In good condition but the right one has light stains and the other has green color breeding lightly. The second half of the 20th century. 31cm x 33cm (right), 32cmx 35cm (left)

Sakiori obi for a casual kimono. The warp is cotton yarn and the weft is cotton strips recycled old from cloth. In excellent condition. The second half of the 20th century. 13.3cm x 2m16cm

Meisen kimono with kasuri red and black rectangular pattern. It has red red silk lining, so probably made in 1930s. In excellent condition. 124cm x 154cm

Thin wool unlined kimono with katazome dots pattern. The wool kimono was made in 1950s. The ground is off-white and dots are red. It looks it was barely worn and in excellent condition. 1950s. 130cm x 154cm

Rare item. Two fragments which are thick silk crepe (oni-chirimen) with katazome Ainu design. It might be haori (jacket) or kimono. In good condition but has some light stains and a hole (1cm x 0.5cm) The first half of the 20th century. Left one: 39cm x 96cm, Right one: 39cm x 116cm

Elementary student's uniform made of wool and probably blended. It has Longer pants has mending. 1940s. Jacket: W:41cm L:53cm, Long pants: W:38cm :L64cm, Short pants: W:31cm L:50cm

Kimono, called "suzukake" worn by a Shugen-sha or Yamabushi who practiced Shugendo. "Suzu" means bamboo grass. Shugendo is the Japanese unique religion combining Buddhism, Shintoism, and worship of nature (mountains). A practitioner (shugen-sha) trained himself in the holy mountains that is ascetic and very painstaking. It is made of thick cotton and dyed with sumi (ink). Kanji characters read "Hakkai-san" which is a group of cragged mountains and has been worshipped since ancient time, located ...