This black silk kimono features an elegant composition of circular wheel motifs scattered across the dark fabric, each wheel rendered in soft gray and white tones with delicate spokes radiating from their centers. These wheels appear to represent both carriage wheels and water wheels, traditional motifs in Japanese design.

Flowing throughout the composition are graceful golden streams that create dynamic movement across the kimono's surface. These undulating lines weave between and around the wheel motifs, suggesting the flow of water or wind. The metallic foil used for these streams catches light beautifully, creating a shimmering effect that would be particularly striking when worn.

The overall design philosophy reflects the Japanese aesthetic principle of asymmetrical balance, with the motifs distributed organically rather than in rigid patterns. The contrast between the deep black silk ground and the lighter wheel motifs, punctuated by the brilliant gold streams, creates a sophisticated interplay of dark and light elements.

The combination of rinzu damask and kinsha crepe silk textures would provide subtle textural variation, while the yuzen painting technique allows for the refined gradations and details visible in the wheel designs.

The ox-cart carriage wheel symbolizes nobility and prosperity, known as "genji-guruma" in Japanese, deriving its name from the royal ox-carts in "The Tale of Genji" from the Heian period. Meanwhile, the waterwheel ("suisha" or "mizu-guruma") has early mentions in Japanese history, seen in illustrations transferring water to rice fields in the 14th-century narrative "Ishiyamadera-engi."

Although this kimono follows the "homongi" style, its motifs deviate from the typical homongi aesthetic. It's possible this garment was associated with or worn during the Shinto theatrical dance "kagura." These rituals are linked to the agricultural calendar, and notably, there exists a kagura dance called "mizuguruma" specifically involving the waterwheel, as mentioned in David Peterson's work "An Invitation to Kagura."

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It measures 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands 63 inches (160 cm) tall.

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