This silk haori features scattered circular medallions against a deep black ground, each containing delicate floral arrangements rendered in soft pastels of cream, coral, dusty rose, and muted gold. The circular frames themselves vary in treatment, some appearing as simple rings while others display more complex decorative borders, creating visual rhythm across the composition. The yuzen technique allows for precise color gradations and fine detail work within each medallion, while the surihaku gold-foil outlining adds luminous accents that catch light and emphasize the contours of petals and leaves. A single mon (family crest) appears discretely placed, indicating this was likely a formal garment for someone of particular social standing.
The circular medallion format, known as "maru" motifs, symbolizes completeness, harmony, and the cyclical nature of life in Japanese aesthetics. Each medallion functions as a miniature garden or seasonal vignette, containing carefully composed arrangements of what appear to be cherry blossoms, peonies, and other traditional flowers that carry associations with beauty, prosperity, and the ephemeral nature of existence. The sophisticated restraint of the overall design—allowing generous negative space between motifs—reflects the period's embrace of modernist principles while maintaining deep connections to classical Japanese decorative traditions.
Its measurements are 51 inches (130 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 33 inches (84 cm) in height.