This meisen silk kimono presents an exuberant all-over pattern that alternates between dramatic black bands filled with stylized flowers and flowing botanical elements, and lighter sections featuring elaborate scrolling arabesques in coral, cream, and deep red against a neutral ground. This rhythmic alternation creates a dynamic visual energy that moves across the entire garment surface, reflecting the period's embrace of more assertive and optimistic design approaches following the austerity of the war years.
The meisen weaving technique, with its characteristic crisp edges and precise color registration, allows for the complex interplay of positive and negative space that defines this composition. The stylized treatment of the floral motifs reflects the influence of Art Nouveau and Art Deco design principles that had been absorbed into Japanese decorative vocabulary. The scrolling vine patterns in the alternating bands demonstrate a more European baroque sensibility, creating an intriguing fusion of Eastern and Western decorative traditions that speaks to Japan's complex cultural position during the post-war reconstruction period.
The overall effect is one of confident exuberance and technical mastery, representing the revitalization of Japan's textile industry after the disruptions of wartime. The meisen production process, which involved pre-dyeing threads before weaving, enabled the creation of such complex multi-colored patterns with remarkable precision and consistency, making elaborate designs accessible to a broader market while maintaining high aesthetic standards.
It measures 47 inches (119 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, standing at 58 inches (147 cm) in height.