Catalog (419)

Bashofu kimono hand-woven of ito-basho, which is a family of banana tree, for both wefts and warps. The brown stripe yarn and warp kasuri yarn are dyed with Sharinbai, a family of the rose tree. The small weft kasri 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. W:114cm, L:132cm

Basket made of yama-budo (crimson glory vine) for body part and akebi (akebia vine) for handles. It is from Tohoku region, North-East of the Honshu. In excellent condition. 20th century. 48cm x 33cm x 16cm (body part)

Futonji made of hand-spun cotton with tsutsugaki orizuru (origami crane) motif and dyed with natural indigo. It has green color lining which is also hand-spun cotton and dyed with natural indigo and yellow color. In excellent condition except for a hole near hem in the indigo cover, indigo faded parts and some holes in the green lining. Late 19th to early 20th century. 158cm x 188cm

Thick shima-cho, a sample book of cortton shima (stripes) with about 870 fragments. The age is written on the cover "Meiji 3 (1870), however the age of the fragments range from very late Edo (mid 19th century) to Taisho (1920s). The first 770 fragments are late Edo and Meiji (the second half of the 19th century) and the second 101 fragments are woven in Taisho period (1912~1925). In excellent condition. 16cm x 21cm x 5cm

Beautiful Okinawan uchikui which is a furoshiki (wrapping cloth) with cherry blossom design. The dye technique is tsutsugaki and bingata-zome which is traditional Okinawan dyeing technique adding colorful vegetable color or pigment. Uchikui is dyed with either tsutsugaki or katazome (stencil-resist-dye). Uchikui is used for not only wrapping but also covering gifts. This uchikui is two panels sewn together. Wefts are choma (ramie) and warps are cotton. Uchikui has same family crest in the last p...

Three gods of fire which are unglazed earthenware made of clay. Fire has been thought as sacred and gods of fire have been put near furnaces, cooking stoves (kamado) and open fireplace (irori) for protecting from disasters and uncleanness. It is not clear where they are from, probably Tohoku district. All in good condition, no chip or crack.19th century. Height:20cm, Width:11 to 12cm

Chogappo made of fragments of choma (ramie), one of bast fibers, which is recycled from white and dyed ramie textiles. Pojagi is the general name for the wrapping cloth and "chogappo" is one kind of pojagi which is patchworked with asa (choma or hemp) fragments. (Reference source: "Korean Embroidery and Wrapping Cloths from the Choson Dynasty" published by Japan Art & Culture Association in 1995). Both warps and wefts are hand-plied for all fragments. Ramie one is for wrapping summer clothing ma...

Asa (hemp) wrapping cloth with hand-drawn tsutsugaki noshi design. Noshi is an auspicious motif which used to be flattened abalone strips and was decorated on a gift. The wefts and warps are both hand-plied. It is colored with pigments. In good condition except for some wear and stains. 19th century. 84cm x 103.5cm

Shimacho with more than 545 fragments which are mostly hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. Some of them are silk or colored yarn are also silk. Shima means stripes in Japanese but also means an island. Cotton textiles were imported from south Asian countries from mid 16th century and the were called "shima momen", cotton textiles from islands. Kasuri or check patterns were also included in shima (stripes). It has kanji characters "安政 4，Ansei 4" 1857, very late Edo period. The book h...

Furoshiki (wrapping cloth) with tsutsugaki auspicious motifs of seven treasures (takara-zukushi), which is made of hand-woven cotton and vegetable indigo dye. Tsutsugaki is paste-resist-dye and colors are added with mostly pigments. Treasures are: sacred jems, cloves, a lucky mullet, a hiding hat, a coat, citruses and so on. It is made in Kyushu in Meiji period (1868～1912)　In good condition except for three mending patches and some tiny holes. 94cm x 124cm

Vest made of tiny bamboo beads and all hand-strung with cotton threads. It was worn till early 20th century (Quin Dynasty) as an underwear of silk garments, especially in the southern China or neighboring countries. It made a wearer keep cool and avoid the outer garment wetting by sweat. Generally in good condition but almost 30 beads are missing. 19th to early 20th century. 48cm x 52cm

Kappa (cape) made of cotton kasuri on both sides which are hand-spun and natural indigo dyed. It is called "maru-gappa" or "hiki-mawashi" in old days. It was worn on the occasion of travel over kimono. It has washi (Japanese handmade paper) between two cotton cloth which is washed out and soft. The word "kappa" came from Portuguese "capa". The Portuguese first came to Japan in 17th century. The piping　is made of handwoven hemp. Generally in good condition but has some holes and wear in cords. ...

Samurai's kaji-haori (jacket), mune-ate (breast pad) and ate (ornament in the back waist) and all pieces have Tomoe kamon (three-way family crest). The ground fabric is not sure, looks mixture of cotton and wool and the lining is cotton European print. There were many massive fires in Edo in 17th and 18th century. Edo government organized the fire prevention system by samurai and then by civilian firefighters (hikeshi) later. Civilian firefighters fought fire at the fire site but samurai did pa...

Furoshiki with tsutsugaki auspicious motif, sho-chiku-bai which are pine, bamboo and plum blossoms. It is made of hand-spun cotton and dyed with vegetable indigo and colored with pigments. In good condition but has a hole (2cm x 5mm) which is mended and pigment in plum blossoms is faded. Late 19th to early 20th century. 130cm x 142cm

Hanten, called "suzukake" worn by a Shugen-sha or Yamabushi who practiced Shugendo. 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. This one is made of asa (hemp) and both warp and weft are hand-plied. Red stamps of holy places are much faded but the kanji character read "Omine-san" that is located in southern Nara prefecture and a par...

Amazing boro cloth which is one side of body part of noragi (farm wear). The ground cloth as well as mending patches are hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dyed. Sashiko thread is also indigo dyed cotton. Asa (hemp) thread is seen in the side seam and that means it is rather old. The second half of the 19th century. 32cm x 184cm

Asa (hemp) cloth with tsutsugaki shrimp which is an auspicious motif. It symbolizes longevity showing that one can live long till having the waist bended. It is made of asa (hemp) and the wefts and warps are hand-plied. It is colored with pigments. 19th century. In good condition but has some wear, stains and indigo color faded parts. 90cm x 65cm

Chogappo made of fragments of asa (choma,ramie or hemp) whose wefts and warps are hand-plied. "Pojagi" is the general name for the wrapping cloth and "chogappo" is one kind of pojagi which is patch-worked with asa or silk fragments.(reference source: "Korean Embroidery and Wrapping Cloths from the Choson Dynasty" published by Japan Art & Culture Association in 1995) Late 19th to early 20th century. In excellent condition except for one hole in the longest belt. All hand-sewn. The four belts are ...