Antique Japanese pilgrim's coat hand woven of asa (Japanese hemp) fiber. Hand painted with sumi ink calligraphy.

Size: 41" high x 47" wide

Mid Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

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

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...

Almost square fukusa, or ceremonial cover, made of silk, hand-decorated in yuzen dye technique (mineral colors and gold flakes) and with gold thread embroidery. Image of two open folding fans, connected with red noshi-threads. On the top fan are chrysanthemums along a stream; the bottom fan is decorated with cranes flying above pine trees near the sea...

Very unusual Japanese silk and gold thread hand-embroidered triptych of the Buddhist deity Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, in eight armed form seated in meditation upon an open lotus. In her eight arms she holds a staff, a trident, a bow and arrows, a Dharma wheel, and a wish granting jewel held out in front of her body. To the left and right of the central deity are large embroidered Sanskrit characters for meditative purpose...

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

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...

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 Kesas were originally made from old scraps of material donated to the temples.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. 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 could also mean that the wealthier temples ended up collecting better fabrics or were able to send out for expensive custom made kesas...

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

Antique Japanese Kesa with the design of chrysanthemum, lined with silk, Meiji period. Dimensions: 35 1/4" x 64"

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

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...

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

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)...

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...

Kimono, called "suzukake" worn by a Shugen-sha or Yamabushi who practiced Shugendo. "Suzu" means bamboo grass. 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 thick cotton and dyed with sumi (ink)...

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. Otherwise in very good co...

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...