Kimono thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Kimono

1950s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Woman's kimono cut in the traditional way and made from plain weave silk with an all-over near-repeating geometric design in black, white and yellow on a red ground. The exact technique has not been ascertained but the vendor from whom the kimono was purchased called it meisen. This seems to be a form of mechanical kasuri whereby the warps and wefts are printed, rather than tied and resist dyed, before weaving commences.
The top section of the kimono is lined with cream plain weave cotton, the lower section and collar band are lined with pink silk crêpe and the sleeves are lined with red plain weave cotton. There is a horizontal tuck tacked up just above waist level


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Plain weave silk with all-over geometric decoration
Brief description
Kimono, red plain weave silk with an all-over geometric design, Japan, 1950s
Physical description
Woman's kimono cut in the traditional way and made from plain weave silk with an all-over near-repeating geometric design in black, white and yellow on a red ground. The exact technique has not been ascertained but the vendor from whom the kimono was purchased called it meisen. This seems to be a form of mechanical kasuri whereby the warps and wefts are printed, rather than tied and resist dyed, before weaving commences.
The top section of the kimono is lined with cream plain weave cotton, the lower section and collar band are lined with pink silk crêpe and the sleeves are lined with red plain weave cotton. There is a horizontal tuck tacked up just above waist level
Dimensions
  • Height: 145.0cm
  • Width: 127.0cm
Style
Object history
Purchased. Registered File number 1987/493.
Historical context
For new research on Meisen - a trade name - the production of which began in 1909 in Isezaki, see the excellent article:
Kobayashi Keiko (tr. Nagano, N.), 'The Effect of Western Technology on Japanese Kasuri: Development, Innovation and Competition' in The Textile Museum Journal, vols 40 & 41 (2001-2), pp.2-33.
Associated object
FE.162-1988 (Object)
Collection
Accession number
FE.161-1988

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Record createdFebruary 12, 2000
Record URL
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