This silk haori presents a masterful interpretation of the classical Genji guruma (Genji cart wheel) motif. The garment showcases the sophisticated resist-dyeing technique of shibori, where circular cart wheel forms have been created through precise binding and dyeing processes, resulting in the characteristic radiating spoke patterns rendered in alternating segments of golden yellow and sage green against a rich burgundy ground.

The Genji guruma motif carries profound cultural resonance, referencing the aristocratic ox-drawn carriages of the Heian court immortalized in The Tale of Genji. Traditionally symbolizing nobility, refinement, and the transient beauty of courtly life, these wheel forms also suggest the Buddhist concept of the wheel of dharma and the cyclical nature of existence. In this particular textile, the wheels appear to tumble and overlap across the surface in dynamic compositions that break from the more static, symmetrical arrangements typical of earlier periods, reflecting the influence of Western modernist design principles that were permeating Japanese decorative arts during the 1930s.

The artistic treatment demonstrates remarkable technical mastery of shibori, with each wheel segment showing the subtle gradations and organic irregularities characteristic of resist-dyeing methods. This creates a living, breathing quality to the pattern that speaks to the wabi-sabi aesthetic of finding beauty in imperfection. The bold triadic color scheme and the overlapping, almost collage-like arrangement of the motifs echo both the geometric abstractions of Art Deco and the emerging influence of avant-garde movements.

Measurements: 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, with a height of 36 inches (91 cm)

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