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This exquisite rinzu haori from the interwar period represents the pinnacle of Japanese textile artistry, synthesizing multiple sophisticated techniques to create a garment of remarkable aesthetic and technical achievement. The yuzen-painted cranes soar across a sumptuous burgundy silk ground with extraordinary naturalistic grace, their forms enhanced by delicate embroidered details and freehand painted accents that bring dimensionality and life to each bird's plumage. The gold foil outlining (surihaku) adds luminous definition to the crane silhouettes, creating a subtle shimmer that speaks to the luxury and refinement expected of high-status garments during this era of economic prosperity.
The crane (tsuru) motif carries profound symbolic weight in Japanese culture, representing longevity, good fortune, and marital fidelity, making this garment particularly appropriate for ceremonial or celebratory occasions. The dynamic composition shows the birds in various stages of flight, their wings outstretched in elegant arabesques that demonstrate the artist's mastery of both traditional kachō-ga (bird-and-flower painting) principles and the more naturalistic approaches influenced by Western artistic traditions.
The inner lining's sumi-e feather paintings reveal an additional layer of artistic sophistication, employing the traditional ink-wash technique to create subtle gradations and organic forms that complement the more vibrant exterior decoration. This hidden artistry, visible only to the wearer and intimate observers, exemplifies the Japanese aesthetic principle of iki—refined understatement and internal beauty. The presence of a single family crest confirms this as a semi-formal piece, suitable for an affluent wearer navigating the complex social hierarchies of early Showa society, where such garments served as markers of both cultural sophistication and economic status.
Its measurements are 51 inches (130 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 39 inches (99 cm) in height.