A fantastic Hand woven Kimono Obi with a non repeating pattern, made in Japan and enclosed in an old kiri-wood box. It is the most amazing work of woven textile we have ever owned, and would certainly have been tens of thousands of dollars new. Not once does the pattern repeat itself. From one end a courtesan seen from behind looks out from her palace shaded with cherry blossoms to a boat in the bay. Above her another dainty figure stairs towards the iris growing along the river bank, her lo... Click for details
Here are three individual hand-made Kimono Obi (sashes), one maru-obi, the other two in the Nagoya-obi style of pre-folding,. Each is enclosed in a unique wooden box signed within by the maker. Not our usual forte, but this seemed more than your average used kimono. The maru-obi is of glistening gold thread decorated with abstact patterns. One Nagoya-obi bears the image of a camel train crossing the desert, the silk road imagery popular throughout the mid 20th century. The last is a stately... Click for details
A truly stunning fukuro obi with metallic gold and silver threads. Part of the Horusai Series, this is a high quality obi from the Nishijin District of Japan that has never been worn. There are many colors in this obi and we think is best described as mainly blue, purple, gold, and silver. The writing on the left side translates [made of]"Genuine Gold". In excellent condition, it measures 12" x 164" with the main ornamented area measuring 99” long. It is much more beautiful than in these ph... Click for details
This is an uchikake robe (outer kimono gown) probably used as Kabuki stage costume. The bottom and the openings of sleeves are thickly padded with cotton stuffing. The design is large paulownia leaves and flowers. This gown is old in good condition (clean) with some broken couching stitches. One small tear (hole) in red liner in the back.
48” (1.22m) wide x 5’6” (1.68m) long with 21” (53.3cm) long sleeves... Click for details
Beautiful Japanese maru obi! Obis can be used as a belt to hold a kimono together. The classic design from the Heian Period (794-1192AD) of ox carts, fans and court music instruments run throughout the front and back. The gold is woven into the fabric almost entirely and sparkles when it is hit by light – it has much gentler tones in the dark. The earth tone green and rusty brown are particularly pretty on this obi. With a thick padding inside, this obi will make a great decoration piec... Click for details
Japanese uchikake (wedding gown) with a colorful design of flowers and birds done in the Tsujigahana-zome (dye) style. The old Tsujigahana dye technique was used on the clothing of the Muromachi to Momoyama period elites. Inside the tie dyed area, flowers and birds were painted with blue, purple and black ink. Tsujigahana-dye was short lived and completely vanished by the early 17th century because of its extreme complexity. This gown is very beautiful with many woven metal threads;... Click for details
Japanese late 19th century sleeve from a stage costume. The sleeve has design hand embroidered on front and back. The front has a large pearl with 3 dragon claws showing around the edge. There are also plum blossoms, bamboo leaves and stylized clouds. The reverse has the 3 friends, bamboo, plum and pine with cloud designs. There is also a fabric handle for the piece. This type of sleeve was not actually worn, but held against the body during a performance. The piece measures 24 1/2" wide... Click for details
This red and black fukuro obi is decorated with traditional paulownia and chrysanthemum family crests and embellished with gold and silver metallic threads. The lining is a solid black. Subtle staining on the cream part of the paulownia flowers visible in the photos.
12” x 161”
This fukuro obi is decorated with a combination of roses and the tortoise shell motif or family crest. The dominant colors are red, black and cream with gold and silver metallic threads. The back is solid black. Very good condition.
12” x 164”
