Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art (209)

Pilgrim's cotton hanten (hakue) with many stamps of sacred places in Shodo-shima in Kagawa prefecture. They are called "Shodo-shima Hachiju-hachi Kasho", 88 Sacred Places in Shodo Island. It is said Kobo-Taishi (Kukai) had ascetic practice and prayer at those places, who founded Shingon Mikkyo in late 8th century. In good condition except for light stain in the upper back sleeve. The first half of the 20th century. 128cm x 93cm

A pair of goldfish lantern made of washi (handmade paper) and bamboo strips which is the origin of Nepta (or Nebuta) used at Nepta festival in Hirosaki city in Aomori prefecture. The goldfish lantern made of paper and bamboo strips were used till around 1980s, but now it is replaced to one made of vinyl and wire. In good condition except for some brownish spots in the white parts. Large one: H:35cm W:34cm, Small one: H24cm W20cm

A piece of rug made of cotton cloth, one side is vegetable indigo dye plain and the other side is stripe. It has roughly sewn sashiko (quilting) and has four layers of cloth. In good condition but it has some stains and indigo faded parts. The first half of the 20th century. 164cm x 166cm

Korean pojagi (bojagi) made of fragments of choma (ramie). All hand-sewn. In excellent condition. the first half of the 20th century. 106cm x 120cm Belt:3.7cm x 41.5cm

Sakiori sodenashi (vest) whose weft is cotton strips recycled from old indigo dye kimono. warp is asa (hemp) yarn. It has beautiful mixed vegetable indigo color. In good condition but has some wear. The first half of the 20th century. 43cm x 75cm

A roll of cotton cloth with Arimatsu shibori whose motif is hemp leaf pattern. The cloth is before steaming and ironing. In excellent condition but the white part, about 60cm from the one end, has a bit yellowish color from long time storage. 1950s to 70s. 30cm x 10m9cm

Sakiori obi (sash) for a casual kimono. Weft is cotton strips which are recycled old cotton kimono and warp is silk yarn. In excellent condition. 20th century. 14cm x 2m28cm

Katagami which is used for katazome (stenci-resist-dye), made of many layers of washi (Japanese handmade paper). It is painted with kakishibu (persimmon tannin) for waterproof and strength. The pattern "Kanze-mizu" is derived from the crest of the Noh drama player Kanze Dayu which is whirl of water. He was the founder of Kanze style Noh (15th century). In good condition. 20th century. 38cm x 45cm

Shonai-obi hand-woven of wash yarn (Japanese handmade paper) for weft and cotton yarn for warp. It is produced in Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. It has beautiful tassels in both ends. The dyes are vegetable indigo and brown. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. 25.5cm x 3m52cm

Five pieces of cotton diaper with Sekka shibori pattern which is one kind of clamp-board dye. They are all unused and in excellent condition. Hand^sewn in ring shapes. 20th century. 34cm x 63cm

Hand-woven silk sakiori obi (sash) whose weft is bunch of mixed color of silk yarn and warp is off-white silk yarn. Generally sakiori is hand-woven of recycled strips from old cloth for wefts , however we call the one also sakiori whose wefts are bunch of yarns. In good condition but has folded line along the length. 20th century. 25cm x 3m42cm

Hand-woven silk sakiori obi (sash) whose weft is bunch of mixed color of silk yarn and warp is black cotton yarn. Generally sakiori is hand-woven of recycled strips from old cloth for wefts , however, we call the one also sakiori, whose wefts are bunch of yarns. In excellent condition. Black borders are recycled cotton strips. 20th century. 13cm x 2m56cm

A pair of miniature wood sculpture of Ebisu and Daikoku which are two of the Japanese Seven Dieties believed to bring good luck. Ebisu is a diety of fishery which brings plentiful catch and Daikoku is a diety of agriculture which brings good harvest. Both are in excellent condition with an original wood box. 20th century. H:5cm each, w:3.6cm each.

Cotton and silk, mixed weave haori with shibori asanoha (hemp leaf) pattern which is dyed with the root of murasaki or murasaki-sou (lithospermum), one kind of grass. It is called "shikon-zome". Murasaki was grown since Asuka period (very late 6th to early 8th century) and purple was thought as the noble color...

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

Silk meisen kimono with double kasuri block pattern. It has red cotton lining so that it was made in early Showa, 1930s. In excellent condition except for tiny moth holes in wool muslin cloth in the wrists inside. 126cm x 144cm

Shonai obi (sash) hand-woven of cotton for warps and paper yarn for wefts. It is made in Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. It is dyed with vegetable indigo and has beautiful tassels in both ends. In excellent condition except for a few tiny stains. The first half of the 20th century. 29cm x 3m56cm

Silk meisen kimono with double kasuri apple and strawberry pattern on yellow ground. Kasuri pattern was dyed with stencil-resist-dye (katazome) for both weft and warp yarn (heiyo-kasuri). Generally in good condition but has some brownish stains and some in the lining too and the silk tape in the hem is a bit dirty. Mid 20th century. 126cm x 146cm

Cotton kimono with geometric pattern. The weaving technique is "Kobai-ori" which is woven with thick and thin yarn loosely so that it is translucent. In excellent condition. Mid 20th century. 142cm x 124cm

A bag for backpack made of Miyama Kansuge, "hiroro" by dialect which is a group of carex. It is made in Aizu region in Fukushima prefecture. It has purple and dark indigo cotton cloth interknitted in the cord. 20th century. In excellent condition. 40cm x 39cm.

Noragi (work wear) made of asa (hemp) whose both wets and warps are hand-plied. The sleeves are vegetable indigo dyed cotton. A few holes with mending patches. Late 19th to mid 20th century. 109cm x 71cm

Minsa obi (sashi) made in Taketomi Island in Okinawa. The features of Taketomi Minsa obi are: both wefts and warps are machine-spun cotton and handwoven. It has four and five block warp kasuri pattern and both selvedges have uneven horizontal stripes which symbolize mukade (centipede). Minsa obi was a gift from a woman to a man meaning acceptance of engagement in old days. In excellent condition. 20th century. 8cm x 2m4cm u

Wood board used by a "nushi", a lacquer-ware artisan in charge of lacquering urushi. It has natural dripping and dried glue(natural) while lacquering. Both sides are beautiful. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. 9.5cm x 91cm x 0.9cm

Baby's yogi which is one kind of bed cloth, a top cover in the shape of kimono. It has cotton cloth with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) for outside and indigo cotton for the lining. It has thick cotton inside for warmth and was used in the cold district or in winter. It is from Fukushima prefecture in Tohoku district. In good condition but has some light stains in the wrists and mending patches in the top shoulder. The first half of the 20th century. 92cm x 88cm

A bag made of rice straw. In good condition but some scraps of rice straw fall. The first half of the 20th century. W:39cm H:21cm Thickness:12cm

A bag for backpacking made of rice straw. It has indigo dyed hemp thread ornament. The cord is cotton. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. W:41cm H:37.5cm Thickness:5cm

Sodenashi (vest) with very fine sashiko　which is from Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. It is made of two layers of cotton dyed with vegetable indigo. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. 48cm(hem) x 68cm

Sakiori obi for a casual kimono whose wefts are strips recycled from black cotton cloth and warps are silk yarn in green, brown and white. In excellent condition. 20th century. 12cm x 2m64cm

Ema (pictorial offering) with a pair of "Aka Oni and Ao Oni"(red and blue ogres) which is hand-painted. It is an offering at Kijin Shrine in Saitama prefecture next to Tokyo which is the one of four shrines worshipping ogres in Japan. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. 14cm x 8cm x 0.8cm

Four sheets of Chiyo-gami which is woodblock print on washi (handmade paper). It is originated in Kyoto and developed in Edo later. It is used for paper dolls and paper crafts. The first half of the 20th century. 53cm x 38cm (the largest one)

4 sheets of Chiyo-gami with autumn leaves designs which are woodblock prints. The paper is washi, a handmade paper made from mulberry fiber. Chiyo-gami was originated in Kyoto and developed in Edo later. It was used for paper dolls and paper crafts. Generally the larger one is the older. Clockwise from top left: 53cm x 37cm, 52cm x 37.5cm, 41cm x 32cm, 53cm x 37cm The top left one has rather thick texture and others have thin texture. The fourth one has a break in the corner...

A roll of asa (hemp) kaya cloth whose wefts and warps are hand-plied and dyed with vegetable indigo. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. Approx. 34cm x 18m35cm

A pair of wooden tabi-kata, patterns for tabi socks. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. L:21cm W:8cm H:5cm

Amazing boro tabi made of hand-spun cotton with mending patches. All original condition. The first half of the 20th century. 22.5cm x 11cm (sole)

Silk meisen kimono without lining. It has double ikat checker board pattern. In excellent condition. Mid century (1930s to 1940s) 128cm x 148cm

Cotton kimono with shibori (tie-dye) pattern which is paulownia flower motif. All hand-tied and dyed with vegetable indigo. In excellent condition. Mid 20th century. 126cm x 140cm