This silk juban is a striking example of early 20th century Japanese design that bridges traditional cultural motifs with modernist aesthetic sensibilities. The primary motif features shishi-mai heads - the distinctive lion-dog masks used in traditional Japanese lion dances - rendered in bold earth tones of rust, brown, and cream against dynamic swirling backgrounds. These supernatural guardian figures, traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune, are depicted with characteristic bulging eyes, fierce expressions, and flowing manes that create powerful visual movement across the fabric.

The design demonstrates clear influences from the Art Deco movement that was gaining international prominence during the period, evident in the geometric stylization of the traditional forms and the rhythmic repetition of motifs. The swirling, flame-like patterns surrounding the shishi heads echo both traditional Japanese representations of spiritual energy and the dynamic, curvilinear elements popular in Art Nouveau and early modernist design. The silkscreen technique allows for bold color blocking and clean graphic lines that give the textile a distinctly modern feel while maintaining its cultural authenticity.

As a juban (undergarment), this piece would have been worn beneath outer robes, making its elaborate decoration particularly noteworthy - it suggests the wearer's appreciation for artistic beauty even in hidden garments. The kinsha silk's fine crepe texture would have provided both luxury and functionality, while the protective symbolism of the shishi motifs would have offered spiritual significance to the wearer, embodying the Japanese aesthetic principle of finding meaning in both seen and unseen elements of daily life.

Its measurements are 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 50 inches (127 cm) in height.

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