Obi

Accession Number
2016/2.41

Title
Obi

Artist(s)
Japanese

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
mid- to late-20th century

Medium & Support
silk brocade

Dimensions
117 in x 12 in (297.18 cm x 30.48 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Kazuko Miyake

Subject matter

This is a Nagoya obi in otaiko gara.

Nagoya obi were first produced at the end of the Taisho era, and are shorter than the more formal fukuro and maru obi. A portion of Nagoya obi fabric is folded and stitched in half to make tying easier.Gara refers to the orientation, arrangement, and surface area of the patterns and pertains to a specific trend and obi tying style. The patterning in the Otaiko gara type is minimal. A few concentrated spots of patterned motif lie on the obi while the rest is left blank. This style was invented during the Edo period (1615-1868) by the female entertainers in Fukugawa, an entertainment district in present-day Tokyo.



Physical Description

gold-speckled pale green and cream colored Nagoya Obi with interwoven clouds with patched, gold-embroidered, and orange Oogi (fan) motif depicting a female figure wearing a red and blue kimono and holding a folding fan. There are illegible kanji written on one of the fans.



Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessories

Primary Object Type
obi

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
clouds
folding fans
obis
patches (quilt components)

& Author Notes

All Rights Reserved