This 1930s meisen silk kimono represents a masterful example of the popular weaving technique that democratized fashionable kimono during the interwar period. The garment displays the characteristic bold patterning and vibrant colors that made meisen textiles so sought-after among Japan's emerging middle class.

The design features a striking combination of flowing vertical streams in teal blue that cascade down the length of the garment, punctuated by scattered floral motifs in rich coral red and pristine white. The undulating stream pattern creates a sense of continuous movement, its organic curves contrasting beautifully with the kimono's structured silhouette. These aquatic motifs are rendered with the fluid, painterly quality that meisen weavers achieved through their innovative ikat-based techniques.

The floral elements - likely peonies or camellias based on their full, layered petals - are positioned strategically across both the golden-yellow ground and the blue stream areas. The flowers display remarkable dimensionality, with white blooms showing subtle gradations and coral specimens featuring deeper tonal variations that suggest natural light and shadow. The green foliage provides essential color balance while maintaining the overall vibrancy of the composition.

What sets this particular meisen apart is its unusual surface quality. While most meisen textiles have a characteristic matte finish, this example exhibits a more reflective surface that creates an almost metallic appearance, particularly noticeable in the golden-yellow areas. This lustrous quality may result from special finishing techniques or the use of particular silk preparations, giving the garment an elevated visual presence while maintaining the supple hand-feel for which meisen is renowned.

The color palette - golden yellow, teal blue, coral red, and white - reflects the bold aesthetic preferences of the 1930s, when meisen designers embraced increasingly adventurous combinations that would have been unthinkable in more conservative textile traditions. This fearless approach to color, combined with the technique's ability to produce complex, seemingly painted effects through weaving, exemplifies why meisen became synonymous with modern Japanese style during this dynamic period.

Despite being meisen, it offers a soft handle. Its measurements are 50 inches (127 cm) in width and 57 inches (144.8 cm) in height.

This artwork is featured on page 219 of Art Kimono: Aesthetic Revelations of Japan, 1905-1960. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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