Almost square fukusa or ceremonial cloth or cover. Two hand-embroidered diamond shaped white silk emblems of a pair of cranes, enhanced by gold-thread outlines, on a kikko hanabishi background in multicolor yuzen dye technique between two bands of bright orange-red. Some of the flowers in the kikko hanabishi ground are hand-embroidered...

Pilgrim's hanten made of thin white cotton with many stamps of the sacred sites that are called "Shodo-shima Hachiju-Hachi-kasho Reijo (Shodo Island 88 holy places) located in Kagawa prefecture in Shikoku. The pilgrimage route was opened in late 17th century. The head band has stamps from Omine-san (Mt.Omine) in Nara prefecture. No sign of a place in the belly band. In good condition but has a few stains. The first half of the 20th century...

Peach bands of silk arranged in vertical columns stagger across six feet of Kesa interspersed with colorful patches featuring flowers and geometrics. The Kesa is backed with sumptuous orange silk. It is accompanied by a smaller piece of the same design called Ohi, a sash worn along with the Kesa. The Kesa is 78 x 45-1/2 inches (198 x 115.5 cm), the smaller Ohi 12 x 57 inches (30 x 142 cm)...

Old Japanese Silk Temple Cloth #2, Uchishiki
Measurements: 26 1/2" W x 23 " L without the white cloth area
Liner: Paper like fabric
Age: 1900-1940
Condition: Front side is in new condition

Japanese Silk Temple Cloth, uchishiki, Phoenix Ho-o bird
Measurements:
Silk, woven, cotton liner
Condition: Never been used

Junrei's hakui (pilgrim's hanten) with many stamps of holy places in Shikoku, which is made of white hand-spun cotton. The ink letters reads "Shikoku Hachiju-hachi-ka-reisho" which means eighty eight holy places in Shikoku. It seems that the pilgrim visited all the eighty eight holy places. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. 114cm x 87cm

Maiwai-gi which is a festive kimono of fishermem. It was given to fishermen from a master of fishermen or an owner of a fish boat on the occasion of large catch. It is mostly made of cotton with auspicious motifs with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and partly hand painting. The original location of the Maiwai-gi is Boso peninsula in Chiba prefecture since late Edo period and spread along the Pacific Coast. This one has thick cotton lining so that it is made into yogi (kimono shaped bedding)...

Pilgrim's cotton hanten (hakue) with many stamps of sacred places in Shodo-shima in Kagawa prefecture. They are called "Shodo-shima Hachiju-hachi Kasho", 88 Sacred Places in Shodo Island. It is said Kobo-Taishi (Kukai) had ascetic practice and prayer at those places, who founded Shingon Mikkyo in late 8th century. In good condition except for light stain in the upper back sleeve. The first half of the 20th century. 128cm x 93cm

Japanese silk fukusa with yuzen technique and sumi-e hand painting. The shimmering effect of the water was achieved by the delicate use of silver surihaku. Red embroidery on the crane’s head and some white embroidery on tail feathers highlight those features. On the reverse is red rinzu silk with a large peony motif. All four original tassels are still intact. There is a break in the boarder thread in the upper left corner (see last photo) but could be repaired...

Hanten, called "suzukake" worn by a Shugen-sha or Yamabushi who practiced Shugendo. Shugendo is the Japanese unique religion combining Buddhism, Shintoism, and worship of nature (mountains). A practitioner (shugen-sha) trained himself in the holy mountains that is ascetic and very painstaking. It is made of hemp and weft of is hand-plied but warp is machine-spun...

DECORATIVE HORSE ROPE

Tied-up rope made of twisting white and organic indigo dyed cotton once used for ritual horse-decoration, early 20th century, Japan. Tied as seen: approx. 30 x 90 x D 18 cm (11.81 x 35.43 x 7.08 in), Untied: approx. 1000 cm (393.70in)...

Rice bag made of fragments of hand-spun cotton with stripes, katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and checks, all vegetable indigo and brown dye. The cord is cotton. Kome-bukuro was used when people dedicated rice to temples or shrines. In excellent condition except for several mending. The first half of the 20th century. W:44cm, H:33cm

Maiwai is a kimono having been given to fishermen from a fish boat owner on the occasion of the large catch. It is seen along the Pacific Ocean, from Aomori to Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka prefecture. The motifs of the picture are auspicious ones such as crane, turtle, large sake cup and sea birds, and also the name of boat in the banner with katazome (stencil-resist-dye). It is vegetable indigo dye and colored with pigments...

Girl's hanten worn at the festival or ceremony with the girl's name "Kimiko" in front. Itis made of hand-spun cotton and cotton lining with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) crane motif. In excellent condition except for two tiny holes in front. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:73cm, L:53cm

Japanese Kesa, buddhist priests' robe, silk brocades, excellent condition. Circa early 1900 to 1940. Dimensions: 46" x 75"

Old silk kesa, an outer garment worn by Japanese Buddhist priests. Kesas were originally made from old scraps of material donated to the temples. The scraps became finer and quite luxious with time...

Beautiful Japanese kesa made from a very high quality silk brocade. The work shown on this kesa is truly amazing. The gold picks up light easily and when it does, it changes the whole kesa to a golden color. The decoration is an auspicious floral design of hosoge (ancient imaginary flowers said to bloom in heaven) and karakusa. It will be impossible to produce a kesa of this quality today because of the steep decline in the quality of materials and workmanship since the time that this kesa w...

A Japanese silk oohi (Buddhist priest's ritual shoulder covering), deep salmon pink brocade silk with an overall design of overlapping fan shaped panels and snowflakes interspersed with daisies and Chinese bell flowers, etc; internal corners with Japanese symbols on a white ground. The ties and liner are green silk. Meiji period. Dimensions - 12 1/2" x 58 1/2".