This prestigious textile originates from Japan’s early to mid-Showa period (1926–1950) and is a scholarly example of the refined heraldic motifs used in formal feminine attire. Measuring 14.5 inches by 63 inches (37 cm x 160 cm), the piece represents a complete panel from a disassembled kimono, preserved in very good condition. The substrate is a high-quality rinzu (silk damask), dyed in a deep, saturated navy blue that provides a nocturnal and dignified background for the repeating pattern.
The visual narrative is dominated by the kirimon (paulownia crest), a classical symbol of justice and benevolence traditionally associated with the Imperial family and high-ranking nobility. The paulownias are rendered in a crisp, ivory-white yuzen painting, arranged in a rhythmic, staggered vertical composition. Each blossom is meticulously outlined with gold foil highlights, while select motifs are further elevated with metallic couching and fine embroidery. This combination of traditional resist-dyeing and opulent metallic embellishment reflects the era's mastery of blending ancient crest symbolism with the structured, graphic precision of early 20th-century design.