Summer robe (katabira) with chrysanthemum branches
Not on view
This thin, unlined summer robe with its rich decoration of gold embroidery was a fashion statement for an Edo aristocratic lady. In the second half of the 18th century, we often see the combination of flowers and plants with abstract, geometric patterns such as this “hourglass” (tatewaku) pattern. The chrysanthemum, a symbol of longevity and a harbinger of autumn, evokes cool breezes to temper the heat of summer. The geometric patterns may refer to the waves of a river.
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