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Summer Kimono with Pine Lozenge and Cherry Blossoms

Japan

Not on view

This summer kimono appears composed of three different fabrics, but this is in fact an effect created by skillful dyeing. After the application of the patterns with stencils, the ramie ground was dyed with indigo, leaving the motifs in white reserve. On the back shoulder area, a vertical stripe combines with a pattern of straight bamboo stalks, while the lower section of the robe features horizontal stripes. A large pine-lozenge motif with scattered cherry blossoms occupies the center. Ramie, also called “China grass,” is a fiber-yielding plant of the nettle family (Urticaceae). Known for its high quality and soft touch, ramie fabric (karamushi) is often used for summer clothing. It is produced primarily in Fukushima prefecture.

Summer Kimono with Pine Lozenge and Cherry Blossoms, Ramie with stencil paste-resist dyeing, Japan

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