This exceptional textile originates from Japan’s mid-Showa period (about 1950–1960) and serves as a scholarly example of the technical precision found in high-status weaver’s prototypes. The piece is a medashi, a specialized standalone sample woven to demonstrate intricate patterns and color palettes to prospective clients. Measuring 13 inches by 27 inches, this panel is in excellent condition and uniquely retains its original selvedges on all four sides, confirming it was never part of a larger roll.

The visual narrative is a densely woven historical tableau executed in the brocade technique, focusing on the Nanban (Southern Barbarian) theme. The central focus is a large, multi-masted European-style ship with billowing sails navigating turbulent blue and white waves. Surrounding this maritime scene is a coastal landscape filled with golden clouds, stylized pines, and traditional Japanese architecture. The composition is populated with a variety of figures in both Western and Japanese period dress, suggesting the cultural exchange of the 16th and 17th centuries. The level of artistry is remarkably high, using a complex array of jewel-toned and metallic threads to create a three-dimensional, narrative effect that would have made a finished obi based on this design extremely valuable.

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