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)...

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".

Antique Japanese Buddhist Pilgrim's coat. Buddhist monks associated with the teachings of Kukai (or Kobo Daishi) would embark on a pilgrimage to visit the 88 temples on the island of Shikoku. Upon arriving to each temple, the monk would bathe before giving offerings and reciting prayers as well as receive a stamp distinctive to each temple. Normally a monk would carry around a special stamp book however it is not unusual to stamp the monk's coat as seen here...

Antique Japanese Buddhist Pilgrim's coat. Buddhist monks associated with the teachings of Kukai (or Kobo Daishi) would embark on a pilgrimage to visit the 88 temples on the island of Shikoku. Upon arriving to each temple, the monk would bathe before giving offerings and reciting prayers as well as receive a stamp distinctive to each temple. Normally a monk would carry around a special stamp book however it is not unusual to stamp the monk's coat as seen here...

A banner made of different brocaded silk "nishiki" fabrics, figured yellow textile and dyed cotton lining. Leather loop. Dimension: 135 cm x 26.2 cm. Condition: slightly faded, partial little wear.

A Japanese priest's silk ouhi (Buddhist priest's ritual arm - shoulder covering), the green/gray/black brocade silk with an overall design of cranes, pine, stylized shells, verlaid with white line divisions and asymetric gold thread kikyo (Chinese bell flower) designs, pale pink silk liner. Late Edo period. Dimensions - 11 1/8" x 54".

Antique uchishiki, Japanese alter cloth, embroidered on silk satin with Chinese theme, “The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove”. Probably from late 18th to mid 19th century. 26 3/8" x 25" (67cm x 63 1/2cm).

Condition: This is a beautiful antique textile even with some obvious damage and wear, still solid with a thick cotton backing. The wear is seen particularly on both ends of the design. This quality of needle work is seldom seen.

A troop of Shishi lion dogs sewn with couched gold thread. frolic among the blossoms and crashing falls embroidered on the re-purposed rich blue patterned Edo period silk of this altar cloth. The original form was likely an uchikake kimono, assembled as an altar drape as a tribute to the owner at a Buddhist Temple. Embroidered up high is the Mitsuba-aoi crest of the Tokugawa Shogun, indicating this was from an aristocratic family as the quality of the embroidery presmes...

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)...

A important Rare 18th Century Noh Theater Robe. This extraordinary silk embroidered example of a summer production Noh Robe has a design of Wisteria, Fans and Ropes, and exquisitely captures the art of Noh. 63.5 inches (161.5cm) height x 52 inches (132 cm) width. Excellent Condition. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

Important Antique Japanese Buddhist Pilgrim's coat. Buddhist monks would embark on a pilgrimage to travel temple to temple. Upon arriving to each temple, the monk would bathe before giving offerings and reciting prayers as well as receive a stamp distinctive to each temple. Normally a monk would carry around a special stamp book however it is not unusual to stamp the monk's coat as seen here.

Very rare to find one with so many locations marked and visited...

Japanese altar cloth, uchishiki, decorated with sets of kara-shishi (Chinese-lions), peonies, rocks and clouds. Silk with cotton liner, some soiling and some stains 27" x 29" (68.6cm x 73.7cm)

The lion is the king of beasts and is considered a messenger for Monju Bosatsu. They are often found guarding either side of a Shinto Shrine in Japan. The peony is the sovereign of the flowers, which symbolizes wealth and honor...

Antique Japanese long silk textile, possibly used as an altar cloth. Made of blue silk and woven with thin strips of metal leaf covered paper in a dramatic scene of a dragon in swirling clouds above waves. Framed in antique silk textile with woven designs of dragons.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36" wide x 11 1/2 feet long

Japanese antique rectangular kesa or priest/monk's outer vestment cloth. This asa (hemp) kesa is a yellow/gold color and finely woven with a design of phoenixes and clouds.

Often described as a mantel or robe, the kesa is worn draped diagonally over the left shoulder and under the right armpit. It is meant as a reminder of the Buddha's own simple patched garment, kesa are formed from many fragments of the same cloth...

Antique Japanese kesa, Buddhist monk's traditional outer garment. Made from rich fragments of silk donated by wealthy devotees, kesa are traditionally made of square and rectangular swatches of material symbolizing the Buddha's patchwork garments. In contrast with this idea is the material itself, made of fine woven silks...

Japanese Antique Kesa Cloth (Buddhist Priest's Vestment) made with prized brocade displaying the crest of the Tokugawa shogunate and framed with a rare purple and gold silk brocade with red accents. The "triple hollyhock" mon belonged to the Tokugawa feudal military government of Edo Japan (1600-1868)...

Japanese antique rectangular kesa or priest/monk's outer vestment cloth. The silk brocade of this kesa is a pale orange color and finely woven with colorful designs of dragons in clouds. The silk is Imperial Chinese, as shown by the five clawed dragons. Lined with dark blue silk.

Often described as a mantel or robe, the kesa is worn draped diagonally over the left shoulder and under the right armpit. Meant as a reminder of the Buddha's own simple patched garment, kesa are formed f...

Beautiful antique Japanese large covering originally used in a Buddhist temple. Three deep blue silk panels sewn together and woven with gold in design of 18 chrysanthemums and 18 floral roundels. Chrysanthemums with 32 petals, back is lined with a light blue cotton.
Inscription of previous owner, which states: Noto, Kashima-gun, Koura Village property of the abbot of Kouken (ji) temple. (Present Day Ishikawa Prefecture, Nanao city)

Late Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

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