Japanese baby's first formal kimono (miyagi), hawk on a pine tree hand painted in sumi-e (black ink) on silk, 32 1/2" W x 41" L.

This type of kimono is used during a newborn's first visit to the shrine. The ritual takes place about one month after his birth. Traditionally, the kimono was sent by the mother's side of the family to their daughter's new family, bearing the family crest of the husband's side...

Cranes symbolize fidelity. They are known for not leaving their spouse’s side after their partner’s death. When pine needles fall, they fall as a pair and the color is evergreen. A pair of cranes under an old pine tree signifies the union of a couple. It is a perfect wedding fukusa (gift cover). The design is beautifully drawn here in Sumi-e black ink style on Shioze silk. Circa, Taisho to early Showa period, 1930-1940. Dimensions: 25 5/8" x 29"

Japanese obi, nagoya style, painted with two noh masks on soft satin silk. The base color is a gentle pink/wisteria color with earth-tone. Taisho/Early Showa.

Top quality Kyoto Nishijin obi in maru obi style (design on both sides). We think this obi is from 1930-1940. No damages. Dimensions: 12 5/8" x 13'5"(161.5")

This is an antique men's silk juban, an undergarment worn under a kimono. For today’s standards, it is very odd to see such an extravagant hidden personal item. During the Edo period, which ended in 1868, common people were not allowed to wear silk. The growing economical power of merchants came along with social disorder and corruption. The Tokugawa government issued many sumptuary laws to limit the spending of the general people on luxury items...

Old Kyoto Nishijin obi. This obi is one of the 5 favorite obis from my collection - we have over 200 obis. It is almost impossible to find a obi like this today. The owner of the store in Tokyo where this obi was purchased once said that single good obi was coming out from one household when they go out knocking on the doors in the old town. The store had gone through changes since and no longer carries antique textiles...

Antique Japanese man's silk juban, an undergarment worn under a kimono. We can find true works of art hidden in this type of old kimono. The term "Juban" comes from the Portuguese word "gibao" (sleeveless garment). The design of hyotan sake (rice wine) gourds is out-lined with hand tie-dye. Interesting patterns inside the gourds. This is an old gown but the condition is like new except that the tie-dye has stretched out over the years. Circa, early 1900s...

This is a beautiful old Japanese maru obi with the design throughout on front and back. It is the kind of obi that we no longer see them produced. The white area is rich white satin and is whiter than shown in the photos. 12-1/4" wide x 154" long. Early 1900.

This is a beautiful example of an old Kyoto Yuzen dyeing. In this kimono, you can see the white lines around the designs, the very characteristic of Yuzen dye. This is where the rice paste is used to resist the dye and is later washed off. The dye on the silk bleeds. By outlining or covering the design area with the paste, the dye artists can work with the design more freely in detail than in the older pre-Yuzen method, which simply uses dip dying and/or embroidery...

Please see Trocadero#38274 for details.

This is an old Yogi, a futon/blanket for the colder parts of Japan. It is a thick cotton dyed in the "Japanese blue", ai/indigo with a tsutsugaki (freehand painted rice paste resist) family crest on the back and stuffed with a cotton inside. The whitle little spots that you see are cutton balls from inside. The condition is excellent; some faint brown stains on the right side bottom and the lower left side bottom of the inside which is giving a charactor to this beautiful piece...

This is an old silk fukusa from Meiji period (1868-1912). This type of fukusa is a covering placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony. Lined with a deep red crepe silk, this fukusa is almost in perfect condition.

Pine trees are considered as sacred in Japan. Here, an ancient pine tree is mostly done with the gold couching, overlaying of threads (wrapped in gold) rather than going in and out of the base fabric...

The carps and nobori Japanese banners, warrior's Yoroi and Kabuto helmets, samurai dolls and swords are all a part of the display used for Boy's Day (renamed Children's Day) on May 5th in Japan. They reflect the parent's wish to inspire their boys in manliness, discipline, bravery and the honor codes which are associated with them.

Originally, Nobori was used in the battle field to identify the troops, some were to show the warriors where their taisho (general) was...

Kesa was originally made from old scraps of material donated to the priests. The scraps became finer and quite luxious in time. People who gave to Buddhist institutions were often keen to give very expensive items, so some fabulous kesas were created from wonderful silk brocades. This also could mean that the wealthier temples end up collecting the better fabrics or are able to send out for the expensive custom made kesas...

This type of fukusa is a cover placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony such as "Yui-noh" which is prior to a wedding. It has a peaceful, ordinary outside view seen through an elegant blind (shown at the top) and a silk room divider (left side) which are both remainders of the Heian Court (794-1160). Cranes and plums represent longevity, harmony and women’s beauty along with their strength. Combined with a gold bag and mallet of Dai-koku symbolizing wealth, there is no...

This type of fukusa is a covering placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony between families. A fukusa with the crest decoration is very practical because it can be used for the different occasions. Beautiful old tapestry weave (hand woven). The dimensions: 25 1/2" x 27"

The idea of a Fukusa gift cover comes from the old Japanese tradition of gift presentation. Fukusa began to be decorative as well as practical in the Edo period (1600 to 1868). The appropriate design was chosen for the occasion; for seasonal, ceremonial and later, time of grief when Japan started to face battles again, with the foreign countries this time. This delicate, indirect way of conveying feelings has been in Japanese culture, poems replacing words for occasions, reminiscent of the ...