Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (202)

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. Kogin-sashi is one kind of needlework (sashiko), stitches with white cotton yarn go horizontally and make geometrical patterns. It makes the hemp kimono warm with thick kogin in the cold district like Aomori, where it is hard to cultivate cotton. Both sleeves are "tsutsu-sode...

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. Kogin-sashi is one kind of needlework (sashiko), stitches with white cotton yarn go horizontally and make geometrical patterns. It makes the hemp kimono warm with thick kogin in the cold district like Aomori, where it is hard to cultivate cotton. It has thin indigo dye cotton lining and sashiko in the lower body too...

Sakiori coat whose wefts are strips from old vegetable indigo dye cotton cloth and warps are hemp yarn. Wefts are fine strips comparing with other sakiori items. The short sleeves are for ease of movement, as it is "hamagi", worn at the seaside. In good condition except for two mending patches. The first half of the 20th century. W:85cm, L:92cm

Bashofu kimono hand-woven of ito-basho, which is a family of banana tree, for both wefts and warps. The brown weft kasur and stripe yarns are dyed with extract liquid from tree or root of "sharinbai", which is a family of rose. Bashofu has been woven in many Islands in Okinawa for everyday kimono or work wear. The first half of the 20th century. In good condition except for a bit of wear in front. W:110cm, L:98cm

Basket handmade of Yama-budo, wild grapevine which grows deep in the mountains. It is used by a mountain worker as a backpack. Generally in good condition but has a few minor breaks. The first half of the 20th century. W:43cm x 28cm x 15cm.

A fisherman's work wear hand-woven of hemp for both wefts and warps. Both natural color and indigo stripes are hemp yarn, which are hand plied. It is from Tsushima in Nagasaki prefecture, an island located between Korean Peninsula and north Kyushu, and the textile is called Tsushima-asa. It had been woven till 1930s, but haven't been woven since then, so it is precious, especially in this excellent condition one. The first half of the 20th century, 110cm x 116cm

Bashofu kimono hand-woven of ito-basho, which is a family of banana tree, for both wefts and warps. The blue stripe yarn is dyed with Ryukyu-ai, vegetable indigo in Okinawa. Bashofu has been woven in many Islands in Okinawa from old days, for everyday kimono or work wear. The first half of the 20th century. In good condition except for a few brownish stains. W:120cm, L:117cm

Makanai which is a kimono worn at home after work in the Nanbu region, where is the east part of Aomori prefecture. It is made of hemp cloth whose wefts and warps are hand-plied and lightly vegetable indigo dyed. The lining is machine-spun cotton. It has very fine sashiko with indigo dye cotton yarn. In good condition but has light stains in front as well as in the back. The last image is from the book "Michinoku-no-Kohu-no-Sekai" by Tanaka Chuzaburo. The first half of the 20th century...

Juban (under kimono) made of hand-spun cotton with shibori design, dyed with vegetable indigo. The shibori technique of the top part is Te-Kumo Shibori (Hand-bound Spiderweb) and the lower part is Kanoko shibori (Bound Dots) and Boshi shibori (Capped Motifs) with mum design, which is dyed in Akita prefecture. Cotton cloth inside is also hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye. In good condition except for mending in the back (the last image). The first half of the 20th century. 121cm x 130cm

Bashofu kimono hand-woven of ito-basho, which is a family of banana tree. Both wefts and warps are hand-plied. The brown warp kasuri yarns are dyed with extract liquid from tree or root of "sharinbai", which is a family of rose, and the very dark blue weft kasuri yarns are dyed with Ryuku-ai, vegetable indigo in Okinawa. Bashofu has been woven in many Islands in Okinawa for everyday kimono or work wear. 20th century. It has some stains and holes. W:106cm, L:116cm

Silk kimono worn on the stage of Kyogen which is a traditional short comedic drama. It is often performed with Noh drama. The kimono is made of thin plain silk with katazome lattice pattern and brush dye for green parts. The lining is pongee silk. The dye is all vegetable and sumi. Kataginu and hakama (kamishimo) is worn over this kimono on the Kyogen stage. In excellent condition. 20th century. 142cm x 134cm

Kake-futon (comforter, top cover) made of hand-spun cotton with beautiful katazome (stencil-resist-dye). The pattern looks imitating shibori (tie-dye). It is natural indigo dyed. It has beautiful green cotton lining and can be used as it is, for example, for a cover or throw. In excellent condition except for a few stains and a mending patch. Late 19th to mid 20th century. 154cm x 175cm

A cotton kimono (yukata) with bold shibori design. Handwoven and vegetable indigo dye. In excellent condition. 20th century. W:124cm, L:124cm.

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...

Huge maku (curtain) made of many sake-bukuro which are recycled. It has many mending patches and stitches. The first half of the 20th century. 2m56cm x 128cm

Sakiori sodenashi (vest) handwoven of strips recycled from old cotton cloth for wefts, and hemp yarn for warps. Sakiori hanten and sodenashi were made mainly in districts along the Japan Sea of the mainland, where they have much snow and cold climate in winter. Piping cloth is indigo dye cotton. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. W:49cm, L:86cm

Knitted bag made of asa (hemp or ramie) and kakishibu (persimon tannin) is coated with. It has mending parts, however, in good condition. It was used by a mountain worker. The first half of the 20th century. W:39cm, L:36cm

A bag handmade of bast fiber from Shina tree (Japanese linden), which is very fine inner fiber of the tree. It is used for collected nuts, berries, or tools. From Hokkaido Ainu. 20th century. In excellent condition. W:40cm, L:34cm

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

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

Cotton noragi hanten which is hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye. It has cotton kasuri collar cloth which is also vegetable indigo dye and hand-spun. In excellent condition and has thick texture. The first half of the 20th century. W:94cm, L:89cm W of shoulders:61cm

Boro sodenashsi (vest) made of cotton stripes for outside and hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye cotton inside. It has 2 layers indigo cloth with sashiko and 3 layers with stripes parts. The first half of the 20th century from Tohoku district. Shoulder W:36cm, Hem W:53cm, L:69cm

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

Urushi small tray with gold makie whose motifs are auspicious noshi and treasures. It has an original wooden box. In excellent condition except for a chip (8mm) in the rim. Late 19th to mid 20th century. W:27cm L:18cm H:12cm

Sakiori sodenashi (vest) whose wefts are cotton strips recycled from old cloth. Warps are asa (hemp) and it has hand-stitched sashiko in the upper back. The indigo cotton cloth in both sides are replaced and machine-sewn. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. 44cm (top) x 74cm

Basket made of bark of hiba, a family of the Japanese cypress. It is used by a mountain worker, and tools, lunch or collected mushrooms are put in. In good condition except for a few breaks in the rim. The first half of the 20th century. W:28cm H:31cm

Baby's kimono made of soft cotton with shibori pattern and dyed with akane (madder). It has interesting shirring in both wrists. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. 70cm x 60.5cm

Silk crepe kimono with modern design whose techniques are katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and hand-painting. In excellent condition except for a few stains in the top collar, however unvisible as it is folded inside, and light blue color slightly faded in the jointing parts of the body and sleeves. 1960s or 70s. 130cm x 146cm

Rare bag for back pack made of plant, possibly "suge" (Carex) but not 100% sure. It is hand-knitted with very skillful technique. Used by a mountain worker. In excellent condition. 20th century. L:38cm W:27cm

A large bag made of taima (hemp) which was used for cocoons. The first half of the 20th century when the Japanese silk industry was most prosperous. This bag might have been used at the silk-raising farmers. Many mending stitches and a few patches. L:109cm, W:81cm

Biku, fishing basket, used by a fisherman in rivers. It is made of bamboo strips and urushi painted. It has a cord made of bast fiber. Some spaces between bamboo strips, but no break. in good condition. The first half of the 20th century. H:24cm, W:22cm

Cotton futonji with beautiful kasuri in check pattern, which is handwoven. Warps and wefts are both hand-spun and vegetable dye, indigo and brown color. It is from Fukuyama city in Hiroshima prefecture (Bingo-gasuri). The first half of the 20th century. In excellent condition. W:131cm, L:140cm

Cotton kimono with Nemaki Shibori (thread resisted rings) and Kanoko Shibori (Bound Dots) with a crest and characters motif. All hand-sewn and indigo dyed. The lining in the upper part is a recycled cotton towel (tenugui). In excellent condition. 20th century. 136cm x 140cm

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

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

Four ceramic rectangular plates with geometric glaze. It has kiln's stamp in the back side in one of the plates, however not identified. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. W:10cm, L:17.5cm, H:3cm

Wood tray with traditional Ainu pattern made by Ainu people in Hokkaido. Generally in good condition but has some scratches and the reddish color came off. 20th century. 30.5cm x 20.2cm x 1cm

Woman's juban (under kimono) made of recycled cloth such as hand-spun cotton with Hinode shibori, which is vegetable indigo dye for the lower part, and cotton with katazome, for the top part. The first half of the 20th century. In excellent condition except for a few light stains in the white cotton lining. 124cm x 126cm

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

A large wood tray in red and black urushi (lacquer ware). Generally in good condition, but minor hairline in the surface and some parts where urushi came off and wear in the back. 20th century. Diameter:40cm, H:4cm

A wood suzuri-bako (ink stone box or writing box) which has layers of colors of urushi inside. It has a memo that it belonged to a noted Japanese painter, however it is not proven. The first half of the 20th century. It has some hair lines and cracks in the painting. 17cm x 27cm x 4.8cm

A sashi (obi) made of plain weave silk with katazome design whose motifs are Edo Hikeshi (fireman) such as hanten (jacket) with brigade's marks, matoi (brigade's symbol) etc. Lining is twill weave black silk cloth. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. 31cm x 4m12cm

Silk meisen lined kimono with geometric pattern in blue, white, pink, green and black. Both warps and wefts kasuri yarn are paper stencil dye. In good condition. Mid 20th century. W:124cm, L:152cm

This is a pair of bamboo ornaments with carved Chinese-style poetry, however some Chinese characters are not readable, so its meaning is not clear either. In good condition. W:9.5cm, L:94cm

Cotton juban (under kimono) with shibori pattern whose techniques are Miura shibori and Ori-nui shibori. The collar cloth is silk crepe with woven pattern. It has thin wool muslin with pattern in both sleeves. In good condition except for several small moth holes. It is from Tohoku district where has cold weather in winter. The first half of the 20th century. W:123cm, L:125cm

Cotton kimono called "yukata" with bold polka dot pattern. The dye technique is called "chusen" which is one kind of stenciled paste-resist-dye. Several 10s of layers of cotton fabric can be dyed by pouring the dye liquid. All hand-sewn and in good condition except for a very faint stain in the white cloth inside the back. 20th century. 126cm x 150cm

Pilgrim's hanten made of thin white cotton with many stamps of the sacred sites that are called "Shodo-shima Hachiju-Hachi-kasho Reijo (Shodo Island 88 holy places) located in Kagawa prefecture in Shikoku. The pilgrimage route was opened in late 17th century. The head band has stamps from Omine-san (Mt.Omine) in Nara prefecture. No sign of a place in the belly band. In good condition but has a few stains. The first half of the 20th century...

Silk meisen lined kimono with geometric pattern in red, green, yellow, black and gray. Both wefts and warp kasuri yarn are paper stencil dye. Mid 20th century. In good condition. W:126cm, L:145cm

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

Hanten work wear (noragi( made of hemp, both warps and wefts are hand-plied. Sleeves are tsutsusode (tubular shape). In excellent condition except for a mending (5mm) The first half of the 20th century. 120cm x 61cm

Woman's kimono madeof hand-spun cotton with shibori pattern. It is dyed with vegetable indigo. The white cloth in the upper inside is also hand-spun cotton. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. 126cm x 140cm

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

Miniature set of koi-nobori (carp streamer) which is put up on the Boy's Festival (or Child's Day on May 5). It is often decorated with miniature yoroi-kabuto (armors) or samurai dolls. Carp is a symbol of strength and success. 1970s. Two banners and outer cloth of two carp are synthetic. In good condition except for a small tip in the one of spears and one of tiny screw for wheels (yaguruma) is lost...

Cotton kimono with Miura Shibori and dyed with vegetable indigo. Hand-sewn and shibori is also hand-tied. In excellent condition except for indigo faded parts. 20th century. 128cm x 140cm

Wood tray with urushi painted whose technique is free and irregular. It might be made not for sale, however, it is unique and interesting. The first half of the 20th century. In good condition except for a few minor chips on the rim. Diameter:30cm, H:4cm

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 first half of the 20th century. In good condition with belts inside are left, which is rather rare. 40cm x 50cm

Futonji with two faces which are made of hand-spun cotton. One is katazome with chrysanthemum motif, dyed with bengala (red iron dioxide) and the other is checks dyed with vegetable indigo. Both sides have mending patches, breaks and holes. The first half of the 20th century. 144cm x 146cm

Cotton futonji with minimal shibori design whose technique is "Nui-shibori (folded and stitched). It is made in Asamai in Akita prefecture where shibori has been practiced since late 18th century and it was most prosperous in the second half of the 19th century, however it declined rapidly because of the machine spinning and chemical dye developed. The local people are trying to preserve the Asamai shibori technique now. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century...

Man's haori (jacket) made of tsumugi (pongee silk) with lining of scenery motif. In excellent condition. It has hand-braided cords in front. 20th century. 132cm x 94cm

This is a piece of noh drama costume which is called "Choken". Choken is made of silk gauze or weft silk gauze with woven designs with gold and colored threads. It is worn by a dancer or noble man in the noh stage. This choken has woven design of Hagi ( Japanese clover ) and Nadeshiko ( Dianthus ) with gold threads. In excellent condition. 20th century. 40cm x 160cm