Kimono

Yoke: late 18th and Body: early 20th century

The distinctive yellow plaid fabric was made in Hachijo Island, nearly two hundred miles south of Tokyo in the Pacific Ocean. The dark panels, more than 100 years older than the yellow fabric, were added to the kimono to create a strong contrast to the yellow. They were embroidered with cranes and bundles of rice. This kimono was perhaps worn for dance.

Yoke: bast fiber (asa) cloth with metallic thread couching and silk thread embroidery Body: silk cloth with woven plaid pattern (koshi)

54 1/2 x 49 in. (138.43 x 124.46 cm)

Gift of the Virginia and Bagley Wright Collection

89.142

Photo: Paul Macapia

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 Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing [on view July 29, 2022 - Jan. 8, 2023].

Published ReferencesRathbun, William Jay, Seattle Art Museum, "Beyond The Tanabata Bridge: Traditional Japanese Textiles", 1993 Seattle, Washington, pg. 40 and 183-185

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