Kosode
Original Language Title小袖
CultureJapanese
Datelate 18th-early 19th century
MediumSatin, silk, embroidery, stencil dyeing, brush painting
DimensionsOverall: 64 3/16 inches (163 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Harold J. Owens
Object number57-45
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionWhite-figured satin ground with silk and metallic thread embroidery, stencil dyeing, brush painting; indigo-blue dyed silk lining. Floral and wave designs.Gallery LabelOn this robe, bouquets of chrysanthemums, plum blossoms, and hollyhocks float on water, represented by a stylized wave pattern. The motifs embody wishes for the wearer’s well-being, such as peace, prosperity, longevity, and purity. The overall design alludes to the concept of impermanence and the fleeting nature of life that aristocratic writers and poets of the Heian period (794–1185) embraced in literature. Scenes of beautiful objects floating on water are repeated across media in Japanese art.
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