Nō Robe (Chōken-type)
Original Language Title能装束（長絹）
CultureJapanese
Dateearly 19th century
MediumSilk gauze with gold brocade
DimensionsOverall: 44 3/4 × 79 inches (113.67 × 200.66 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Object number32-142/23
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionPurple silk gauze ground with gold thread brocade. No robe (Choken type) with design of a long-tailed bird.Gallery LabelThis robe, filled with cherry blossoms and onagadori (long-tailed birds), was made for a dance performance. Cherry blossoms are beloved in Japan for their spiritual connotations, including their symbolism of the fleeting nature of life. Onagadori are a symbol of fortune.
The performer would have worn layers of costumes under this robe. Through the semi-transparent woven gauze fabric, the audience would have seen glistening metal embroidery or the smooth sheen of a silk textile. The combination of the costumes together created a beautiful and otherworldly scene on stage.
Yamanaka & Company, New York, by August 1932;
Purchased from Yamanaka & Company, New York, by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, August 1932
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