DescriptionThis sumptous robe is among the world's earliest extant kosode. The delicate embroidered design was inspired by the natural scenery of Japan's coast, its beaches strewn with shells and sea grass. The foundation fabric, woven in an intricate key-fret pattern with floral motifs, is likely to have been imported from China in its white, undecorated state. It was then resist dyed to achieve the effect of irregular sandbanks on which marine motifs were embroidered. The alternating bands of light blue were further embellished by accenting the woven pattern with gold leaf.