Dark blue-ground fisherman's festival coat (donza) made in Fukui Prefecture, second half 19th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Cloth: cotton and silk; sashiko (decorative reinforcement stitching), indigo dyeexpand_more
The John R. Van Derlip Fund and the Mary Griggs Burke Endowment Fund established by the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation; purchase from the Thomas Murray Collectionexpand_more 2019.20.139
Not on Viewexpand_more
Donza are coats worn by fishermen throughout Japan for festivals and special occasions until the 1930s, when production of them largely ceased. Narrow sleeves and extensive patterns rendered in sashiko, a form of decorative reinforcement stitching that uses cotton thread, are characteristics of this style of coat. Here, remarkably small stitches were placed only a few threads apart, incorporating the contrasting thread to such an extent, and achieving such a degree of regularity, that the pattern almost looks woven into the backing fabric. Its sleeves are decorated with a lattice pattern in yellow cotton thread, and the body of the garment features a complex pattern of arrow-like feathers in light-blue thread.
Details
- Title
- Dark blue-ground fisherman's festival coat (donza) made in Fukui Prefecture
- Role
- Maker
- Accession Number
- 2019.20.139
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Murray et al. 2018, pl. 112
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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