Accession Number2005/1.407
TitleFukuro obi with gosho guruma (palace cart) design
Artist(s)JapaneseArtist NationalityJapanese (culture or style)Object Creation Datecirca 1970-1979Medium & Supportmulti-colored silk brocade with gold-wrapped and gold-paper covered threadsDimensions 171 5/8 in x 11 13/16 in (436 cm x 30 cm)
Credit LineGift of Howard and Patricia YamaguchiLabel copyLike the kimono with the painted palace scenery, above, this obi has designs inspired by Japan’s classical Heian period, the ninth through twelfth centuries. Aristocrats of that period traveled by oxcarts, elaborately decorated and equipped with bamboo blinds for privacy. The sumptuous brocade that fills the entire length of this sash is typical of an obi worn only with formal kimono.
Maribeth Graybill, Recent Acquisitions of East Asian Art, November 5, 2005-May 14, 2006
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In the language of kimono, colored tomesode are slightly less formal than black. A married woman would wear this type of kimono for the wedding of a nephew or niece or a business associate to whom she and her husband served as matchmakers. Colored tomesode are accompanied by brocade obi, here with gold embellishments, tied around the midsection; the sheer bulk and abundance of such an obi would have perfectly matched the festive mood of a wedding. Accessories are equally important for formal occasions: sandals made of multicolored woven silk fabric and a hand-woven obi cord would be worn with a colored tomesode and brocade obi.
(Wrapped in Silk & Gold Exhibition, Summer 2010)
Primary Object Classification Costume and Costume Accessories Primary Object TypeobiCollection AreaAsianRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
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