This silk kimono features large white and yellow stenciled arrow-feather motifs on a wine-colored background. Measuring 49 inches (124 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and standing at 63 inches (160 cm) in height, it's adorned with a pattern that has historical significance dating back to the Heian era.

During the Edo era, this motif was commonly seen on kimonos for ladies in waiting. In the Meiji period, it was popular on schoolgirl and teacher kasuri kimonos, while in the Taisho and early Showa periods, it remained a favored motif for women's kimonos, created through shibori, stenciling, or yuzen-dyeing. The yabane pattern, often vertical but sometimes at an angle, carries auspicious associations with weddings.

This particular kimono embodies the 'iki' design style—a restrained, simple aesthetic—making it versatile for various occasions and seasons while carrying the symbolically meaningful arrow-feather motif.

This artwork is featured on page 271 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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