Japanese Taisho Wedding Kimono with Fans

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Antique Japanese Taisho wedding kimono with fans.

During Taisho period (1912-1926), the wedding kimono were not made with heavy padding as previous periods or later to current times. Nor in general were they heavily embroidered. They were hand dyed using the yuzen technique (waxy material placed all over except where they wanted the dye. Then it would be dyed, and washed off and the whole process repeated until all the colors in the whole piece were finished). They may have some couching (threads sewn to fabric) or some light embroidery. They were all hand sewn.

This kimono is made of silk crepe and has an off white background with fans as the subject. The main colors are various shades of red. Two large fans have couching (gold threads sewn to fabric). Please note, the threads holding the couching in place are the first to disintegrate and many of these did. Hours and hours were spent repairing it so I can appreciate the work that went into these pieces. This is only mentioned, as with time, others will break but is repairable. It has a full white lining and is padded only along the hems of the kimono and lining. It measures about 64" long and 50" across from sleeve tip to sleeve tip. These were usually special ordered. This has blank circles where the mon (family crest) would go. Perhaps it was a sample or cancelled order.

Taisho kimono are getting increasingly scarce and hard to find. This one is a gorgeous piece of art work!

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 08 October, 2006.