Accession Number
2013/2.492

Title
Obi

Artist(s)
Japanese

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
silk, brocade

Dimensions
12 in x 140 in (30.48 cm x 355.6 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Howard and Patricia Yamaguchi

Subject matter
This is a Fukuro Obi in Rokutsu-gara.
Fukuro Obi is double-layered  single sided obi in which two separately woven surfaces and back pieces of cloth are stitched together. This type of obi is typically only worn at weddings or other formal occasions.

Gara refers to the orientation, arrangement, and surface area of the patterns and pertains to a specific trend and obi tying style.

The Rokutsuu gara type derives from a specific tying style, the Otaiko musubi.  The areas of the obi that are visible in this style are patterned while the parts that are obscured are left blank. In terms of surface area, roughly sixty percent is patterned while forty percent is left blank.

 

Physical Description
All black fukuro (single-sided) Obi with black embroidered floral (grape) design throughout. 

Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessories

Primary Object Type
obi

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
floral patterns
kimonos
obis
repeated motif
silk (silkworm material)