google-site-verification: google615fe10ab62068fe.html
This silk boys' kimono possesses a vibrant blue ground that serves as a dynamic backdrop for an array of silk-screened military motifs that reflect the era's glorification of martial values and national strength. The pattern includes stylized military equipment such as helmets, armor pieces, arrows bundled in quivers, and what appear to be ceremonial military accessories, all rendered in a palette of cream, gold, brown, and muted pastels.
The design aesthetic demonstrates the influence of both Art Deco modernism and traditional Japanese decorative arts, with objects arranged in an all-over pattern that creates visual movement across the garment's surface. The military imagery carries symbolic weight in Japanese culture, where samurai traditions and martial virtues were deeply embedded in the national identity. During this particular historical period, such motifs on children's clothing served both decorative and ideological purposes, intended to instill values of courage, discipline, and patriotic duty from an early age.
The technical execution through silk-screening allows for precise detail in the rendering of military equipment while maintaining the flowing, organic quality characteristic of Japanese textile design. The juxtaposition of hard military objects with soft, curved lines and the playful arrangement of motifs creates an intriguing tension between the serious subject matter and the garment's function as children's wear. This kimono serves as both a beautiful example of textile artistry and a cultural artifact that reflects Japan's complex relationship with militarism during the lead-up to World War II.
It measures 30 inches (76 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands at 28 inches (71 cm) in height.