Silk Juban with Silkscreened Cranes and Treasure‑Ship Medallions

This silk male juban  highlights an intricate all-over pattern of silk-screened circular motifs enclosing symbolic scenes of cranes in flight amid stylized waves and treasure-ships sailing through turbulent waters, rendered in sepia tones of brown, beige, and muted blues against a subtle grid background that adds geometric depth to the garment. The silk-screening technique achieves crisp, layered details within each medallion, creating a collage-like effect where natural and mythical elements coexist in harmonious repetition, emphasizing the era's blend of traditional craftsmanship with emerging graphic precision. This design evokes Art Deco through its circular framing, stylized waves, and rhythmic composition that captures the 1920s' fascination with streamlined forms and exotic motifs, while drawing from ukiyo-e influences in its narrative vignettes. Symbolically, cranes represent longevity, fidelity, and good fortune in Japanese culture, often as auspicious omens for prosperity, while treasure-ships (takarabune) embody wealth, abundance, and divine blessings, typically associated with New Year's celebrations and the Seven Gods of Fortune—making this juban a talismanic undergarment imbued with protective and prosperous meaning beneath formal attire.

It is complemented with an indigo blue inner lining. It's in very good condition and measures 52 inches (132 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, with a height of 53 inches (135 cm).

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