Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Buddhist Priest's Robe (Kesa) with Pattern of Swallows among Willow Branches

18th century
Not on view
The textile used for the body of this seven-sectioned kesa features a lively design of swallows among willow branches on a reverse-swastika fret background (the reverse-swastika is a symbol of infinity in Buddhist thought). The kesa’s corner and central patches are made from a contrasting fabric patterned with pine boughs on a gold ground. The long floating pattern wefts seen on the surface of both examples are characteristic of karaori, which also lends its name to Noh costumes made of this type of textile.

The border of a kesa usually is continuous; piecing in the border here is an indication that the textile used for this kesa was not woven specifically to be sewn into a vestment and may once have been a Noh robe or other garment. Treasured textiles and items of clothing often were given to temples for use as vestments and altar cloths.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 柳に燕模様袈裟
  • Title: Buddhist Priest's Robe (Kesa) with Pattern of Swallows among Willow Branches
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: 18th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Brocaded twill with supplementary weft patterning; silk and metallic thread
  • Dimensions: Overall: 48 x 78 in. (121.9 x 198.1cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Costumes
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1919
  • Object Number: 19.93.9
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Helmet (<i>Zukinnari Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, Japanese
Helmet (Zukinnari Kabuto)
Japanese
16th century
Seven-Panel Buddhist Monk’s Vestment (Shichijō kesa) with Floral-Lozenge Pattern, Twill-weave silk with supplementary weft patterning, Japan
Seven-Panel Buddhist Monk’s Vestment (Shichijō kesa) with Floral-Lozenge Pattern
Japan
17th century
Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese
Armor (Gusoku)
Armorer Helmet bowl signed Saotome Ietada
Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
16th and 18th centuries
Seven-Panel Buddhist Monk’s Vestment (Shichijō kesa) with Crane Patterns on Hexagonal Diaper Pattern (Mokkō) Background, Twill-weave silk with supplementary weft patterning (karaori), Japan
Seven-Panel Buddhist Monk’s Vestment (Shichijō kesa) with Crane Patterns on Hexagonal Diaper Pattern (Mokkō) Background
Japan
early 17th century
Koto (箏), Metalwork by Goto Teijo, 9th generation Goto master, Japan Japanese, Various woods, ivory and tortoiseshell inlays, gold and silver inlays, metalwork, cloth, laquer, paper,, Japanese
Koto (箏)
Metalwork by Goto Teijo, 9th generation Goto master, Japan
Workshop of Gotō Yūjō
early 17th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.