This exceptional silk miyamairi kimono, used for initiating a baby boy in a Shinto ceremony, displays intricate yuzen-painting with freehand painting highlights. The back of this remarkable kimono features a dominant image of a Noh actor performing the auspicious 'Sambaso'. It measures 32 inches (81 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 37 inches (94 cm) in height. The front of the kimono is adorned with various family crest motifs.

The 'Sambaso' is a sacred dance preceding certain Noh plays, celebrating fertility, good harvest, and serving to deter earthquakes and appease gods. The dance, noble and elegant yet somewhat humorous, involves a man in dark robes and a tall hat, typically with a mask resembling an old man, entering with a fan and wearing tabi, Japanese split-toed socks. He uses a gruff voice, moves his sleeves rhythmically to the drumbeat, and performs steps involving sliding and stomping, symbolizing harvest.

In this kimono's portrayal of the 'Sambaso', the Noh actor carries a fan displaying finely-rendered auspicious motifs symbolizing good luck, prosperity, and longevity for the child it was created for. The family crest motifs on the front include symbols like 'bamboo', 'mist', 'cloves', 'triple pestle', 'umbrella', 'stripes', 'tomoe', 'turnip', 'star', and 'crossed sickles', indicating wealth and a lineage associated with warrior families. These motifs held significant martial and noble connotations, depicting a wealthy military family.

This artwork is featured on pages 254-257 of Ceremonial Textiles of Japan, 18th to 20th Centuries. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

The piece is also featured on page 94 of the summer 2018 edition of HALI magazine.

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