This striking silk panel originates from Japan and dates to the early Showa period (1926–1940). Measuring 14 inches by 54 inches (35.6 cm x 137.2 cm), the textile was originally part of a larger kimono and is crafted from meisen silk, a fabric celebrated for its bold colors and slightly blurred patterns achieved through the ikat-style dyeing of threads before weaving. The panel is in very good condition, though it retains minor imperfections consistent with its history as a functional garment.
The visual narrative features a vibrant, rhythmic design of trailing wisteria (fuji) vines set against a deep terracotta or brick-red ground. In Japanese culture, wisteria is a deeply symbolic plant associated with love, longevity, and the transience of spring. The motif is rendered with a modern, almost graphic sensibility characteristic of the early 20th century, utilizing cool teal-blue leaves and cream-colored blossoms that "pop" against the warm background. The slightly jagged edges of the floral patterns are a hallmark of the kasuri (ikat) technique used in meisen production, which gave these textiles a "vibrating" quality that appealed to the cosmopolitan women of the era.