Cotton Wa-sarasa produced in Kyoto, called Kyo Sarasa. The word "Sarasa" means cotton cloth with designs which are hand-painted, woodblock printed and copper plate printed, Those sarasa cloth were brought by trade from India, Europe, Persia (Iran), Java etc. in 16th and 17th century. Cotton with colorful and exotic design fascinated Japanese people, especially tea ceremony masters and rich civilians...

A fragment of cotton cloth with tsutsugaki turtle and crane design which is an auspicious motif. The cloth is hand-spun cotton and natural dye. It is probably a fragment of nobori (banner). It has calligraphy in one of the hems, but not readable. In good condition. The first half of the 19th century. 32cm x 74.5cm

Hemp furoshiki with tsutsugaki tai (sea bream) and bamboo design, whose wefts and warps are hand plied. The family crest is Maruni-Katabami-Mon. Katabami is perennial plant, named oxalis. Hand-sewn but both hems are machine sewn. The sewing machine was already imported in late Edo period and probably it was used widely in Meiji period (1868∼1912). In good condition except for a few spots. Meiji period. Made in Kyushu. W:95cm, L:110cm

Cotton Kurume kasuri futonji with a castle motif. Kurume in Fukuoka Pref. in Kyushu has been one of the main product places of indigo dyed cotton kasuri since late Edo period (early 19th century). It is made of hand-spun cotton that means probably it was made before Meiji 15 (1882) and vegetable indigo dyed. In excellent condition except for minor brown stains only in the back. It has white cotton belt for hanging in the back. The second half of th 19th century. 129cm x 158cm

Oshi-e, litterally "pressed picture" which is made of fragments of antique European print and Japanese silk and the motif is a civilian man in Edo period. The history of Oshi-e date back to Heian period, found in Shosoin Treasures (around 10th century) It was very popular toy in Edo period with motif of Kabuki Theatre actors. The ground paper is "Itame-gami" which is ten layers of washi and has thin cotton lining so that it looks like a shallow relief. In good condition...

Oshi-e, litterally "pressed picture" which is made of fragments of antique European prints and the motif is a young woman in Edo period. The history of Oshi-e date back to Heian period, found in Shosoin Treasures (around 10th century) It was very popular toy in Edo period with motif of Kabuki Theatre actors. The ground paper is "Itame-gami" which is ten layers of washi and has thin cotton lining so that it looks like a shallow relief...

Beautiful Japanese obi with a woven design of Mt. Fuji above golden clouds. The design has more details than shown in the photos. The length shown in the photos was adjusted to 6'2". The total length of the obi is 14'6" long and 12 1/4" in width. The silver sky (touched up with brown painting) end when the obi is folded in half (7’1”) is followed by the other design in the same silver background...

Antique Japanese tall banner for Boy's Day celebration, two mon (family crests), scene depicting a noted scene from a noh play called Takasago. The two old couples represent the wish for a couple to be together till the end. The rake represents raking in fortune and the broom for sweeping away misfortune and bad energy. A crane above and an ancient turtle below, both also symbolic of longevity. The banner is painted in mineral pigments on cotton. 190" high x 26 1/2" wide.

Tall Japanese Boy's Day banner depicting 3 samurai on horseback. Wonderfully dramatic scene with swords drawn and crashing waves on a black ground. Bright colors in paste resist dye on cotton. The top of the banner is decorated with a wood sorrel (katabami) mon. Taisho Period. Size: 23 1/2 feet high x 33 inches wide.

Old Japanese stripe cotton jacket in new condition. Dimensions: 53 1/4" wide x 38 3/4" long

Elegant Japanese Cotton Jacket with sashiko hand stitches, slits on the sides, new condition. The small stitches go through from the front to back or back to front. The stitches on the front were sewn right along the stripes that they do not show up much but it gave a nice, gentle texture to the front. Dimensions: 37" wide x 39" long

Antique Japanese maiwai, katazome stencil dye on cotton, padded and in excellent condition, 51"(4'2") x 51", circa Meiji (1868-1912) to Taisho period (1912-1926). This maiwai is old but has been well maintained, pretty clean condition without any odor. One damaged area (did not go through to the liner) was repaired with very small stitches (photo #9). The photo #10 shows the area before it was repaired with stitches and filled with red color...

Japanese cloth taken from an old futon bed cover, decorated with an auspicious motif of pine, bamboo and plum blossoms. The evergreen pine symbolizes the strength and devotion of men; plum blossoms are the purity, subtle beauty and inner strength of women. Bamboos are often used to describe the personality of men and women; for example, a person being as straight (honest) as bamboo, it could also mean flexible (bendable) to a large extent...

Decorative Japanese summer kake fukusa with a pair of carps(koi). Circa 1960-1980. Dimensions: 30" x 25 1/2" (76.5cm x 64.5cm) The condition is clean all and all with some small stains in the lower right corner and some faint storage stain (shown in the photos).

Decorative Japanese summer kake fukusa (gift cover) with a pair of carps(koi) in the water. Circa mid Showa, 1960-1980. Dimensions: 22" x 19 3/4" (58.5cm x 50.2cm)

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"

Antique Japanese Fukusa (gift cover), Kinko (Ch. Qin Gao) on a giant carp. According to old Chinese legend, only a mighty carp can climb the upstream of the Yellow River where water plunges a hundred feet, turning into a water fall. When it does happen, a carp can turn into a dragon and is able to ascend to heaven. Based on the legend, a task that seems almost impossible to attain is called ‘passing the Dragon Gate’...

There is no visible image of God in the Japanese Shinto religion. For this reason, people naturally find the spirit of God in their surroundings. From the ancient times, God was said to dwell in pine trees and as a result, we find many Meiji fukusa today that are decorated with pine trees. Many of them have their roots in Noh play...