This meisen silk kimono presents a vibrant botanical composition featuring luxurious peonies rendered in warm oranges, corals, and cream tones against a rich emerald green ground, interspersed with stylized bamboo stalks in golden yellow. The design demonstrates the characteristic boldness of meisen textiles, with large-scale floral motifs that create dramatic visual impact across the garment's surface. The peonies are depicted with naturalistic shading and dimensional layering of petals, while maintaining the slightly stylized quality typical of mid-20th century Japanese textile design.
The artistic treatment reflects influences from both traditional Japanese decorative arts and the emerging modern aesthetic of the post-war period. The composition balances naturalistic representation with decorative abstraction, showing how Japanese textile artists were adapting classical motifs for contemporary sensibilities. The scale and placement of the florals demonstrate an understanding of Western fashion's emphasis on bold, eye-catching patterns while maintaining the sophisticated color harmonies characteristic of Japanese design.
Symbolically, this kimono represents prosperity and honor through its prominent peony motifs, as peonies (botan) are considered the "king of flowers" in East Asian culture, symbolizing wealth, nobility, and good fortune. The bamboo elements add layers of meaning, representing resilience, flexibility, and rapid growth, while also suggesting the approach of summer seasons. Together, these motifs create an auspicious combination celebrating both material abundance and spiritual strength. The meisen technique's ability to produce such vivid, saturated colors particularly enhances the celebratory nature of these symbolic elements, making this kimono suitable for festive occasions despite its current condition challenges.
Note: not advisable for wear due to several holes and a few light stains. Its measurements are approximately 49 inches (124 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 57 inches (145 cm) in height.