Gallery Statement

Welcome to The Kimono Gallery, a curated collection of over 1,000 museum-quality vintage and antique kimonos and haori, arranged into four price categories. With over 40 years of expertise, co-founder Roger Yorke—author of Art Kimono, The Japanese Haori, and Ceremonial Textiles of Japan—personally selects each piece based on superior artistry, rarity, and condition. During the Edo, Meiji, and Taishō eras, Japan made no arbitrary division between fine art and decorative art—eminent artists were commissioned to design textiles, and each work was an original creation. While Japanese textile artists borrowed freely from Western ideas during the early 20th century, it is notable that Japanese aesthetics profoundly influenced the West during this same period, inspiring the rise of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Minimalism. Many kimonos in this gallery date from this remarkable era, when rapid growth in wealth and confidence—combined with one of the world's great textile traditions—produced garments that stand as important works of art. The Japanese have long considered kimonos to be art, displaying them over screens and as room decoration. Collectors and designers worldwide agree, increasingly mounting these textile masterpieces as wall art.To deepen your understanding of Japanese textile arts, we invite you to explore The Kimono Collector's Companion—a comprehensive resource covering garment types, techniques, motifs, and care. Our Glossary remains one of the most thorough references available online. A note on condition: We select kimonos that are superior in both aesthetics and condition. However, most extant vintage and antique kimonos bear small imperfections due to age and use. Such minor signs of history within these rare and unique art pieces are considered acceptable to most collectors. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. New acquisitions are added regularly. We welcome your visit.