This elegant chirimen silk kimono features a striking composition of fatsia leaves (yatsude) rendered in golden yellow, soft pink, and deep green against a rich burgundy ground, their broad, palmate forms scattered asymmetrically across the textile surface. The leaves appear to float gracefully against the backdrop of subtle vertical damask stripes, creating a harmonious tension between organic naturalism and structured geometric patterning that reflects the Taisho period's distinctive aesthetic sensibility. The fatsia leaf motif carries profound symbolic meaning in Japanese culture, representing protection, good fortune, and prosperity due to the plant's hardy nature and eight-fingered leaves (ya-tsu-de literally meaning "eight hands"). This symbolism made it particularly popular during the Taisho era, when Japan was experiencing rapid modernization and cultural transformation, as the leaves suggested both stability and the reaching toward new possibilities. The stenciling technique used to create these motifs demonstrates the period's technological advancement in textile production, allowing for precise repetition while maintaining the handcrafted aesthetic quality prized in traditional Japanese design. Artistically, this kimono reflects the influence of both Art Nouveau's organic forms and the emerging Art Deco movement's geometric sensibilities, characteristic of the Taisho period's unique position between traditional Japanese aesthetics and Western modernist influences. The vertical damask stripes create a subtle textural foundation that anchors the floating leaf motifs, while the sophisticated color palette of burgundy, gold, and muted pastels demonstrates the refined taste of the era. The chirimen silk's characteristic crepe texture, achieved through highly twisted yarns, adds tactile interest and creates subtle variations in light reflection that enhance the overall visual richness of this beautifully preserved example of early 20th-century Japanese textile art.
There's a visible 2cm x 1cm black stain on the front left sleeve, shown in one of the detail images. It measures approximately 48 inches from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands 55 inches tall (122 cm x 140 cm).