Kimono
1860-1890 (made)
| Place of origin |
In 1891 the V&A purchased this kimono from Liberty's, the London shop founded by Arthur Lasenby Liberty in 1875. Liberty's specialised in selling goods imported from Asia and played an important part in fostering the late 19th-century craze for all things Japanese. The garment is decorated with a pattern of rippling water, bamboo and birds. Such stylised natural motifs provided a new and important source of inspiration to British designers.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Figured satin silk, paste-resist dyeing, embroidery |
| Brief description | Kimono, figured satin silk (rinzu) with freehand resist-dyed and embroidered decoration of rippling stream, bamboo and birds, Japan, 1860 - 1890 |
| Physical description | Kimono with pattern of rippling water, bamboo and birds. Figured satin silk (rinzu), freehand paste-resist dyeing (yūzen), embroidery in silk and gold-wrapped silk threads |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | The V&A bought this kimono from Liberty & Co. in 1891. The London shop specialised in goods imported from Asia and did much to foster the fashion for the wearing of kimono. For most, the garment suggested luxury and non-conformity. It could also hint at the supposed eroticism of the East. For those advocating dress reform, however, the kimono offered inspiration for a style of clothing free of restrictive corsets.
(29/02/2020) |
| Object history | Purchased from Liberty & Co. (Regent Street, W.), accessioned in 1891. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Bought from Liberty & Co. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | In 1891 the V&A purchased this kimono from Liberty's, the London shop founded by Arthur Lasenby Liberty in 1875. Liberty's specialised in selling goods imported from Asia and played an important part in fostering the late 19th-century craze for all things Japanese. The garment is decorated with a pattern of rippling water, bamboo and birds. Such stylised natural motifs provided a new and important source of inspiration to British designers. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 874-1891 |
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| Record created | December 19, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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