Antique kimono: A rinzu (damask) kimono featuring yuzen-painted "komainu'i" (mythical lion-dogs) and temari (thread ball) motifs.  Metallic gold-coloured supplementary threads and metallic thread embroidery highlights.   48" from sleeve-end to sleeve-end x 66" height. Komainu strongly resemble Chinese guardian lions, and in Japan statues of them guard the entrance of the inner shrine of many Shinto shrines.   Meant to ward off evil spirits, komainu statues are almost identical, but one has the mouth open, the other closed.  This kimono is very tall and graphic, indicating that it was likely utilized for formal dancer or theatre purposes.