This stunning black satin silk uchikake or formal wedding robe is a masterpiece of auspicious symbolism and meticulous craftsmanship. Its design flows dramatically across the dark silk, featuring flocks of graceful cranes, which are revered symbols of longevity, good fortune, and marital fidelity. Lavish peonies, known as the "King of Flowers," bloom at the hem, signifying wealth and honor, while noble chrysanthemums are scattered throughout, adding wishes for longevity and rejuvenation. This rich visual narrative was achieved through a combination of highly skilled techniques; Yūzen resist-painting creates the delicate, graduated colors of the flowers, while intricate satin-stitch and shimmering metallic-thread couching embroidery give the motifs texture and luxurious depth. The atmospheric quality of the clouds and misty landscape is rendered with sumi-e brush-painting, creating a work that is at once a garment and a painting, reflecting a refined naturalism that was highly prized during this transitional artistic period.

It measures 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, standing at a height of 60 inches (152 cm).

This artwork is featured on pages 3352-353 of Ceremonial Textiles of Japan, 18th to 20th Centuries. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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