This elegant inner kimono demonstrates a masterful understanding of visual hierarchy, with the body and sleeves rendered in a subtle, textured dark fabric featuring a delicate vertical stripe or ikat-inspired pattern that provides understated elegance appropriate for an undergarment. This restrained approach to the primary surface creates a perfect foil for the dramatically ornate chest panel, where silkscreen printing technology has been employed to create an intricate geometric composition of remarkable complexity and precision.
The chest section reveals a sophisticated diamond lattice framework filled with elaborate medallions that combine both geometric and organic elements in a design vocabulary that suggests Islamic or Central Asian textile influences filtered through Japanese aesthetic sensibilities. The color palette of sage green, coral pink, turquoise, and cream creates a harmonious yet vibrant contrast against the darker ground, while the repetitive nature of the pattern demonstrates the precision possible with early 20th-century silkscreen techniques. The motifs within each diamond compartment appear to include stylized floral rosettes and geometric stars, creating a rich tapestry effect that would have been visible at the neckline and chest area when worn beneath outer garments.
This design approach reflects the Taisho period's embrace of international decorative influences while maintaining distinctly Japanese principles of spatial organization and color harmony.
It has a discreet silk patch that neatly holds a split in the fabric. It measures 49 inches (124 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands at 57 inches (145 cm) in height.