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A striking example of early 20th century Japanese textile artistry, featuring a hitoe (unlined) summer kimono created on textured chirimen silk. The garment showcases large-scale floral motifs executed in hand-painted technique, demonstrating the sophisticated craftsmanship of the Taisho period.
The complete kimono displays an elegant composition of oversized chrysanthemum or dahlia-like flowers rendered in coral-pink tones with vibrant teal-green leaves, all set against a rich deep purple ground. The flowers are distributed across the garment in an asymmetrical pattern that flows naturally from the shoulders down through the body and sleeves, creating visual movement and balance. This large-scale floral approach reflects the influence of Western Art Nouveau aesthetics that were being absorbed into Japanese design during this period, while maintaining distinctly Japanese sensibilities in color harmony and spatial arrangement.
The detail views reveal the extraordinary precision of the hand-painting technique, showing how individual petals are delineated with fine golden-yellow lines that radiate from a central golden core dotted with yellow highlights. The chirimen silk's characteristic crepe texture provides a subtle surface that enhances the paint's adherence while adding visual depth to the colors. This close examination demonstrates the meticulous attention to botanical accuracy combined with decorative stylization that characterizes high-quality Japanese textile art of the era.
The color palette of deep purple, coral-pink, teal-green, and golden accents creates a sophisticated harmony that would have been particularly striking during the summer months when such unlined garments were worn. This piece represents the synthesis of traditional Japanese textile techniques with the more naturalistic and bold floral motifs that became popular during the Taisho period's cultural modernization.
Measurements: 48 inches (122 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end standing at 62 inches (157 cm) in height.