This silk kimono features a sophisticated faux shibori pattern created through silkscreen printing on a rinzu (figured silk) base, demonstrating how traditional resist-dyeing effects were being mechanically reproduced to meet changing market demands. The bold geometric design creates dynamic diagonal movements across the golden ground, with deep burgundy and forest green angular forms that evoke lightning bolts or abstract mountain ridges, punctuated by delicate white maple leaves that seem to dance through the composition.

The silkscreen technique allowed for the precise replication of shibori's characteristic irregular edges and organic textures, as clearly visible in the detailed view where the burgundy forms display the feathered, slightly uneven boundaries typical of traditional tie-dye methods. This technological advancement made elaborate resist-dye effects accessible to a broader market while maintaining visual authenticity. The maple leaf motifs carry profound seasonal symbolism, representing autumn's transient beauty and the Buddhist concept of mono no aware—the bittersweet awareness of impermanence. The overall design reflects the Art Deco movement's influence on Japanese textile design during this period, with its bold geometric forms and streamlined aesthetic that merged traditional Japanese nature motifs with contemporary modernist sensibilities.

There's minor silk splitting on the inner red lining. It measures 46 inches (117 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands at 55 inches (140 cm) in height.

This artwork is featured on page 354 of Art Kimono: Aesthetic Revelations of Japan, 1905-1960. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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