Cobalt Silk Haori: Printed Paulownia & Floral Field

This silk haori  is a vibrant and highly decorative example of pre-war textile design. The garment is crafted from a saturated cobalt-blue silk ground, featuring a subtle horizontal ribbed texture that provides a structured, architectural foundation. Overlaid on this base is a rhythmic composition of large-scale printed paulownia (kiri) motifs, an auspicious symbol traditionally associated with nobility and seasonal transition.

The botanical design is rendered in a sophisticated palette of plum-purple, sage-green, and soft ochre-yellow, with the clusters of flowers and heart-shaped leaves appearing to float across a dense, all-over field of tiny reddish-brown blossoms. The sweeping, curling stems add a sense of fluid movement to the garment, while the high-contrast colors reflect the bold graphic sensibilities of the late 1920s and 1930s. This piece represents a period where classical motifs were reimagined with a modern sense of scale and color saturation, resulting in a garment that is both physically delicate and visually powerful.

It is in good condition, with a discreet patched hole on the rear and slight fraying along the back collar seam. It measures 45 inches from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 34 inches in height (114 cm x 86 cm).

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