gold colored kimono with thin, horizontal lines that alternate black and white; faint vertical lines that form a plaid pattern; dark blue interior

Yellow-ground kimono with horizontal stripes, second half 19th century

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Material: Silk pongee (raw silk)

This kimono is made of tsumugi, or pongee, a soft, thin cloth woven from raw silk. Its threads come from cocoons rejected as inferior by the silk industry due to their irregularity. Making the thread is a time-consuming process: the maker spins the silk floss into yarn by hand, cocoon by cocoon, instead of spinning filaments of several cocoons at once. Because the silk filaments are of uneven width, the woven texture is not shiny and smooth as with most silk. It appears simpler, yet comfortable and light. The more such a garment is washed, stretched, and worn, the more its luster increases.

Details
Title
Yellow-ground kimono with horizontal stripes
Role
Maker
Accession Number
2019.20.49
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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gold colored kimono with thin, horizontal lines that alternate black and white; faint vertical lines that form a plaid pattern; dark blue interior