This vibrant hand-painted artwork is an original and distinctive creation from Japan, dating to the Mid-Showa period (1945–1965). Measuring 12 inches by 25 inches (30 cm x 64 cm), this piece was masterfully crafted by a Japanese artist in Kyoto’s renowned Nishijin district using paint on fabric with a paper lining. The artwork remains in very good condition and served as the technical design inspiration for a high-end woven obi.

The composition features a series of large, kaleidoscopic floral medallions (karabana) arranged in a rhythmic, repeating pattern. The central medallion is a complex mandala of layered petals in deep indigo, vermilion, and forest green, centered with a golden-yellow core. These primary motifs are connected by a geometric lattice of ochre-yellow diagonal bands, which create diamond-shaped fields populated by delicate green scrolling vines (karakusa). Smaller, four-petaled floral crests anchor the intersections of the lattice, completing a design that reflects the formal symmetry of classical Nara-period textiles reimagined through a mid-century lens.

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