Catalog (429)

Baby's ceremonial kimono made of Echigo-jofu which is hand-woven of choma (ramie) and dyed with indigo. The fine kasuri pattern is yoko-gasuri (weft kasuri) and bamboo, pine tree and plum bloom motifs. Echigo jofu was first woven asa kasuri in mainland Japan having been influenced by Ryukyu (Okinawan) kasuri. The dye is called Ai-sabi which is very dark blue dyed with vegetable indigo mixed with shoen (burnt pine shoot) or other catalysts. It has rare charms, one is ribbons made of red silk crep...

Hanten remade from Echigo-jofu kimono which is handwoven with choma (ramie) and both weft and warp are hand-plied. Echigo-jofu has been woven in Echigo region in Niigata prefecture since ancient time. Especially, pictorial and cross double kasuri patterns were very popular and much produced in late Edo period (the first half of the 19th century). Those Echigo-jofu with cross double kasuri kimono are seen many in Ukiyo-e. This hanten has double kasuri pattern and stripes. 19th century. In good co...

Two pieces of urumi-zome cloth which are made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. Urumi-zome is katazome (stencil-resist-dye) imitating shibori-zome (tie-dye) and it requires more process than common katazome to make blurring like shibori. Both have rips but other part of the cloth is not weak. The right one has a patch in the back. The second half of the 19th century. Right one:75cm x 126cm, Left one:65cm x 126cm

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 ...

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

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

A pair of fireman's globes made of indigo dye cotton with sashiko (quilting) with cotton yarn. Used but in good condition. 19th to early 20th century. W:16cm, L:43cm

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. Body cloth:33cm x 2m84cm x 2pieces, Sleeve cloth:33xm x 142cm x 2...

Yuki-boshi (snow hat) or yuki-kabuto (snow helmet) made of palm tree fiber and vegetable indigo dye cotton inside. It has washi painted with Paulownia oil for waterproof, between outside and cotton indigo lining. It is from Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. It is said it was worn by "matagi", a hunter. The second half of the 19th century. In good condition with belts inside are left, which is rather rare. 40cm x 57cm

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, ...

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

A small bag made of deer skin with shibori (tie-dye) pattern. The brown color is dyed with the technique called "fusube-gawa". The deer skin is smoked with burning rice straws and gets brown color. Fusube-gawa is used for armors or wallets in Edo period. It has silk cords and lining. In excellent condition. Late 19th to early 20th century. 15cm x 18cm

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

Furoshiki (wrapping cloth) made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dyed. The crest is hand-drawn by tsutsugaki technique. It has sashiko on the four corners. In excellent condition except for a cut (1cm) in the crest. The second half of the 19th century. 135cm x 137cm

Han-gappa (short jacket) made of kuzdu-fu whose wefts are kudzu fiber and warps are cotton. Kudzu is one kind of leguminous plant. The collar is made of imported wool. Han-gappa made of kudzu-fu was worn in summer and other ones with lining was for winter. The design of the straps show it was made after Tenpo era (1830∼1844）in Edo period, according to the "Kinsei Fuzoku-shi" Buttons are made of the horn of the water buffalo. Kudzu-fu has been produced mainly in Kakegawa in Shizuoka prefectur...

Furoshiki (wrapping cloth) with sashiko which is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dyed. It has the sashiko owner's name. The first half of the 20th century. In excellent condition. 124cm x 124cm

A piece of Narumi-Kongata (also called Urumi-zome) cloth which is hand-spun cotton and dyed with vegetable indigo. Narumi-Kongata is one kind of katazome (stencil-resist-dye) imitating shibori. It had been produced from late Edo to Meiji period but not produced anymore. It has auspicious shrimp motif with intricate pattern which requires high dye and stencil making technique. In excellent condition. 35cm x 172cm

Cotton woman's kimono (yukata) with shibori pattern which is chemical indigo dye. Shibori techniques are Orinui shibori (folded & stitched) and Hiranui-makiage shibori (stitched & bound). In good condition. Mid 20th century. 130cm x 146cm