This silk haori from the Showa period (1926-1940) exemplifies the refined elegance of Japanese textile artistry through its masterful deployment of chrysanthemum motifs against a rich aubergine ground. The silkscreen technique allows for precise rendering of the blooms in a sophisticated palette of cream, pale lavender, and muted gold, creating subtle tonal variations that bring dimensionality to the floral forms. The scattered placement of the chrysanthemums across the garment's surface demonstrates the Japanese aesthetic principle of asymmetrical balance, where negative space plays as important a role as the decorative elements themselves. This compositional approach reflects influences from traditional Japanese painting and the emerging modernist sensibilities of the period, which favored cleaner, more streamlined designs over the densely patterned textiles of earlier eras.

The chrysanthemum holds profound cultural significance in Japan as the imperial flower and symbol of autumn, representing longevity, nobility, and the ephemeral beauty of life's cycles. In Japanese symbolism, the chrysanthemum embodies both joy and grief, celebration and contemplation, making it particularly appropriate for formal occasions and seasonal transitions.

It measures 48 inches (122 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands at 36 inches (91 cm) tall.