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This meisen silk kimono displays a striking composition against a deep black ground, where stylized ume (plum blossom) branches weave gracefully across the surface alongside royal ox-carts rendered in brilliant cobalt blue with horizontal striped patterns. The artistic treatment demonstrates clear influence from the Art Deco movement that was internationally prominent during this period, evident in the bold geometric simplification of the cart forms and the dramatic contrast between the saturated colors and the dark background.
The ume blossoms, depicted in vibrant coral-red and golden yellow, carry profound symbolic meaning in Japanese culture as harbingers of spring and symbols of perseverance, blooming as they do in the depths of winter. The delicate white branches that connect these blooms create flowing linear patterns that echo the organic rhythms found in traditional Japanese scroll paintings, while simultaneously suggesting the dynamic movement celebrated in Futurist and modernist art. The royal carts, or gosho-guruma, reference the imperial court's ceremonial vehicles and symbolize nobility, refinement, and the passage of time, their inclusion reflecting the period's complex relationship between honoring traditional imperial culture and embracing contemporary artistic innovation.
The technical innovation of the horizontal supplementary threads creating a ribbed texture every centimeter represents the experimental spirit of meisen production during this era, when artisans pushed the boundaries of traditional weaving techniques. This textural element adds a tactile dimension that enhances the visual interplay between the geometric cart patterns and the organic floral motifs.
Its measurements are 48 inches (122 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 58 inches (147 cm) in height.