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Buddhist priest's robe (kesa)
Japanese
Edo period
late 18th to early 19th century
Object Place: Japan
Medium/Technique
Appliquéd silk, gilt paper; 2/1 twill weave with continuous supplementary wefts (gilt paper) bound in 1/2 twill order and discontinuous supplementary-weft floats (silk) bound at intervals; pieced and appliquéd (Karaori)
Dimensions
Height x width: 113.3 x 212.7 cm (44 5/8 x 83 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number21.202
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionSeven-columned kesa with decoration of chrysanthemums. Columns, dividing bands, borders, shiten, niten: red silk ground patterned with chrysanthemum bushes in the floats of the supplementary wefts. The supplementary-weft floats are not very long, but the relaxed quality is still apparent. Although the chrysanthemum motifs are a bit stylized, they are not rigid. This is a special characteristic of karaori from the latter half of the eighteenth century through the first half of the nineteenth century. Lining: Purple plain-weave silk, probably of the same period as the outer fabric.
ProvenanceGift to MFA on March 3, 1921