Fireman's hat (kaji zukin)

19th century

Indigo dye adds an ominious character to this hood worn by a firefighter. In the towns and cities of Japan in the Edo period, flammable wooden buildings required specially trained men who could confront frequent fires. To protect themselves from flames, they would put on special jackets and gloves, pull down the flaps of their hoods, and drench each other in water. Known to be courageous and occasionally reckless, the firemen were treated as popular local heroes.

Cotton cloth with tsutsugaki, indigo dye, and sashiko

21 x 21 1/2 in. (53.34 x 54.61 cm)

Gift of the Virginia and Bagley Wright Collection

89.164

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Beyond The Tanabata Bridge: A Textile Journey In Japan (Washington, D.C., Textile Museum, Sept. 10, 1993 - Feb. 27, 1994; Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham Museum of Art, Apr. 17 - June 26, 1994; Dallas, Texas, Dallas Museum of Art, Mar. 12 - May 28, 1995).

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Indigo, May 9 - Oct. 19, 2003.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Textures of Daily Life: Firefighters' Jackets from the 18th and 19th Centuries, July 17, 2004 - Jan. 17, 2005.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Mood Indigo: Textiles from Around the World, Apr. 9 - Oct. 9, 2016.

Published ReferencesRathbun, William Jay, Seattle Art Museum, "Beyond The Tanabata Bridge: Traditional Japanese Textiles", 1993 Seattle, Washington

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