Accession Number
2005/1.325

Title
Beige Obi with wax-resist overall patterns of rust stripes, interrupted by wax-resist and embroidered designs of floral scrolls

Artist(s)
Minagawa Gekka

Object Creation Date
circa 1950

Medium & Support
Plain-weave silk with wax-resist pattern, hand-painted designs, and embroidery

Dimensions
141 in x 12 3/16 in x 1/16 in (358.14 cm x 30.9 cm x 0.1 cm);29 15/16 in x 18 1/8 in x 6 5/16 in (76 cm x 46 cm x 16 cm);141 in x 12 3/16 in x 1/16 in (358.14 cm x 30.9 cm x 0.1 cm);x 44 1/16 in x 112 cm

Credit Line
Gift of Howard and Patricia Yamaguchi

Label copy
Beige obi with wax-resist overall pattern of rust stripes, interrupted by wax-resist and embroidered designs of floral scrolls
In this modern obi, the artist updates and distances himself from the refined tradition of Kyoto textiles, achieving instead the rugged feeling of folk textiles.
An obi is a sash, usually about thirteen feet long and twelve inches wide, that is both decorative and functional, serving as a belt and closure on the outside of a kimono. Once tied, the flower motifs on this obi appear both on the front and on the back bow. The wearer can adjust, tuck, and neatly hide any excess length of the kimono under the obi.
(Label for UMMA Japanese Gallery Opening Rotation, March 2009)

Subject matter
Scroll of flower and foliage design is traditionally called “hana karakusa” (Chinese plants with flowers) and has numerous variations. Usually, the flowers in this type are not actual plants, so that they appear exotic as in the design of this obi. The wax-resist dying technique used is called roketsuzome.

Physical Description
The obi is made of plain silk, on which beige and brown stripes are pattern-dyed. Scrolls of exotic flowers and leaves are hand painted with orange and black color, and embroidered with metallic threads. These plant designs are located on two parts of the obi; when wearing, one will appear in front, and other will appear on the back bow. There is a hand-painted artist’s seal of Chinese character “moon” on one end of the obi.

Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessories

Primary Object Type
obi

Additional Object Classification(s)
Textile

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
flowers (plant components)
kimonos
lost-wax process
obis