This silk kimono exemplifies the sophisticated layering of textile techniques that characterized high-quality Japanese garments of the period, creating a complex visual dialogue between bold floral motifs and their subtle echoes across the fabric's surface. The garment showcases omeshi weaving, a refined technique that produces lustrous, textured silk with a distinctive hand, used here to render large-scale floral designs that appear to float against the geometric background pattern. These prominent flowers are complemented by delicate faux-shibori and rinzu (damask) flower motifs that seem to emerge as ghostly reflections or shadows of the primary design, creating an effect of depth and movement that suggests flowers caught between reality and memory.
The detailed view reveals the remarkable technical achievement of combining multiple weaving and dyeing methods within a single textile. The interplay between the assertive omeshi flowers and their subtle rinzu counterparts demonstrates the Japanese aesthetic principle of jo-ha-kyū (introduction, development, climax), where elements build upon each other in sophisticated harmony. This approach reflects the influence of both traditional court aesthetics and the emerging modernist sensibilities of the early 20th century, creating a garment that speaks to Japan's ability to honor classical techniques while embracing contemporary design innovations. The floral symbolism would have carried seasonal and poetic associations, with the layered presentation suggesting the ephemeral nature of beauty and the cyclical patterns of nature that are central to Japanese artistic philosophy.
It measures 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, with a height of 62 inches (157 cm).