light brown robe with black zigzag diamond pattern; white interior lining across upper back

Light brown-ground kimono with connected double lozenge pattern, late 19th-early 20th century

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This kimono is a testament to the distances textiles sometimes travel and the creative transformations they undergo through the work of many hands. Woven in Okinawa from banana bast fiber, the light, breathable cloth was likely intended for export to the Japanese mainland, where such luxe fabric was prized. The connected double-lozenge pattern, a mainland motif achieved through a stencil resist-dyeing technique called katazome, might have been added there later. Ironically, the pattern imitates kasuri (or ikat)—an Okinawan technique. In the last step of its transformation, the cloth was cut and sewn into a form typical for Japanese kimono with long, free-hanging sleeves.

Details
Title
Light brown-ground kimono with connected double lozenge pattern
Role
Maker
Accession Number
2019.20.181
Provenance
Cynthia Shaver
Catalogue Raisonne
Murray et al. 2018, pl. 142
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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light brown robe with black zigzag diamond pattern; white interior lining across upper back