This silk kimono features the kikko (tortoiseshell) motif, a hexagonal pattern that has been revered in Japanese culture since ancient times as a symbol of longevity and good fortune, derived from the belief that tortoises live for ten thousand years. The interlocking hexagonal cells create a honeycomb-like structure across the textile's surface, with each cell containing different traditional patterns including geometric lattices, floral motifs, and abstract designs that demonstrate the remarkable precision achievable through various shibori resist-dyeing methods.

The technical execution reveals multiple shibori techniques working in concert—likely including itajime (shaped-resist folding), kanoko (tie-dyeing), and possibly arashi (pole-wrapping) methods to achieve the intricate patterning within each hexagonal compartment. The subtle variations in the burgundy and cream color palette, ranging from deep wine tones to pale beige, create a sophisticated tonal hierarchy that gives dimensionality to what could otherwise be a flat geometric repeat. This variation demonstrates the hand-controlled nature of the shibori process, where slight irregularities in tension, timing, and dye penetration create the organic quality that distinguishes traditional Japanese textiles from mechanically produced fabrics.

The overall aesthetic reflects the period's embrace of both modernist geometric abstraction and traditional craftsmanship, embodying Japan's complex relationship with modernity during the 1920s and 1930s. The kikko pattern's cellular structure anticipates the mid-century fascination with molecular and atomic imagery, while its execution through time-honored shibori techniques maintains connection to centuries of Japanese textile tradition. This kimono exemplifies how Japanese artisans successfully navigated the tension between preserving cultural heritage and engaging with contemporary design vocabularies, creating garments that were simultaneously ancient in their symbolic content and thoroughly modern in their visual impact.

Measuring 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and standing at 60 inches (152 cm) tall