Framed Japanese Ceremonial Kimono Yuzen Dye

A Japanese festival kimono expertly mounted and displayed in a large acrylic shadow box. This impressive ceremonial garment circa late 19th-early 20th century was made from a thick linen or linen/cotton blend and splendidly decorated with resistant dye technique called Tsutsugaki, which is applied free-hand for bold designs on pieces that strive for visibility and it often heavily uses indigo blue color. The upper back features a larger wisteria mon (Fuji clan) embracing a smaller quarter Moku-ka (gourd), suggesting the robe may have been used in a ceremony involved the two clans. The lower portion showcases a composition of bamboo, plum blossom, pine branches, cranes and turtle, all auspicious symbols in Japanese culture. The style of the rendering was of a nearly abstract quality, emphasizing strokes and forms instead of details. The use of the colors of indigo blue and salmon pink was also rather unusual thus setting this piece apart. The garment was hung on a bamboo rod and mounted on linen and displayed in a museum quality shadow box.
For reference and examples of Tsutsugaki technique and garments, see Textile of Japan: The Thomas Murray Collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art" (Prestell) page 224-250.