Kimono

The kimono, which means 'the thing worn', is the traditional garment of Japan. From the 16th century it was the main item of clothing for both sexes and all classes of society. This child's robe was made and worn in Okinawa, the largest of the islands in the Ryukyuan archipelago that stretches to the south of mainland Japan. The rhythmic design of a stylized stream, ducks and irises was particularly favoured by the Ryukyuan aristocracy. It was created using stencils and bright mineral pigments using a technique called bingata.

Physical description

Kimono for a child of plain weave cotton with stencilled decoration (bingata) with design of irises and ducks beside a stream.

Place of Origin

Shuri (made)

Date

late 19th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Plain weave cotton with stencilled decoration (bingata)

Dimensions

Height: 85.3 cm, Width: 79.0 cm

Object history note

Purchased. Registered File number 1962/2747.

Descriptive line

Child's kimono of plain weave cotton, Shuri, late 19th century

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Earle, Joe, ed. Japanese art and design London: V&A Publishing, 1986, p. 179.
Sekai ni hokoru Ryukyu ocho bunka iho ten : Yoroppa Amerika hizo (Ryûkûan art treasures from European and American collections.) Okinawa: Urasoe Bijutsukan, 1992, Cat. No. 81.
Jackson, Anna. Japanese country textiles. London: V&A Publications, 1997, Fig. 64.

Exhibition History

Okinawan Art in European Museums (Urazoe Art Museum 18/09/1992-23/10/1992)

Materials

Cotton (textile)

Techniques

Plain weave; Stencilling

Subjects depicted

Plants; Duck (bird)

Collection code

EAS

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