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This silk kimono showcases the refined artistry of yuzen dyeing combined with freehand painting, creating a luxurious textile that exemplifies traditional Japanese decorative arts. The rich teal-green rinzu silk serves as a sumptuous backdrop for an elaborate pattern of karahana flowers and fierce lions, motifs that demonstrate the Japanese aesthetic principle of combining natural beauty with symbolic power.
The lions, rendered in warm orange and rust tones, are depicted with flowing manes and dynamic poses that convey both strength and movement. Each lion is individually hand-painted without the use of stencils, showcasing the artist's skill in creating subtle variations within a cohesive design. The karahana flowers, stylized blooms of Chinese origin that became integral to Japanese decorative vocabulary, appear in golden yellow with some incorporating red accents and metallic silver threads woven horizontally into the silk. These metallic elements catch and reflect light, adding depth and luminosity to the overall composition.
Several of the detail images reveal the intricate technical mastery behind this work, showing the detailed insertion of metallic threads that create shimmering highlights throughout the textile. This technique, combined with the freehand painting, places this Taisho period work within the tradition of luxury textile production that flourished during Japan's Edo period, when such elaborate kimono were worn by the merchant and aristocratic classes. The overall aesthetic evokes elements of the Rinpa school's decorative approach, with its bold patterns and rich color harmonies, while the organic flow of the design suggests influence from Art Nouveau's naturalistic tendencies, though filtered through distinctly Japanese sensibilities of balance and refinement.
There are several light yellowish stains present on the front side.
Measuring 48 inches (122 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and standing at 58 inches (147 cm) in height.