A striking example of Japanese textile artistry, featuring a silk kimono decorated with the traditional yabane (arrow feather) motif executed through silkscreen technique on a luxurious rinzu (damask) ground woven with chrysanthemum and cherry blossom patterns in figured satin.

The kimono presents a bold geometric composition where stylized arrow feather patterns create dramatic vertical striping across the garment. The design employs a sophisticated color palette of deep teal, navy blue, burgundy red, cream white, and golden yellow, with the feather motifs rendered in alternating color combinations that create visual rhythm and movement. The yabane pattern, traditionally associated with protection and the driving away of evil spirits, transforms the garment into both a decorative and symbolically powerful piece. The geometric precision of these motifs reflects the influence of Art Deco aesthetics that were permeating Japanese design during the 1920s and 1930s, while maintaining distinctly Japanese cultural symbolism.

The detail views reveal the sophisticated interplay between the silkscreened surface design and the underlying rinzu weave structure. The arrow feather motifs appear to float over the subtle damask ground, where traditional chrysanthemum and cherry blossom patterns are woven into the silk in a figured satin technique that creates areas of varying luster and texture. This layering of pattern upon pattern demonstrates the technical mastery of Japanese textile artists, who could seamlessly integrate multiple decorative techniques into a unified composition. The feathered edges of the arrow motifs show the characteristic soft boundaries achieved through skillful silkscreen application, while the precise registration of colors reveals the high level of craftsmanship involved in this production method.

This kimono represents the dynamic period of Japanese textile design when traditional motifs like yabane were reinterpreted through modernist sensibilities, creating garments that honored cultural heritage while embracing contemporary aesthetic innovations.

This artwork is featured on page 270 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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