Dressing gown
Known as Yokohama robes for the Japanese port from which they were exported, this type of embroidered informal gown was one of the first items to be exported after Japan was opened to the West in 1854. The Yokohama port was then opened in 1859. The robes were sought after by women of economic means for their beauty, warmth, light weight and sense of exoticism. While the embroidery motifs on Yokohama robes, such as the swallows and floral tendrils on the pockets in this example, are very much in the Japanese taste, the cut of the garment is in the Western style, bearing no relation to native Japanese dress.
The density of the embroidery on this piece exudes elegance and luxury and is finer than that worked on the later examples of the 1890s.
The density of the embroidery on this piece exudes elegance and luxury and is finer than that worked on the later examples of the 1890s.
Artwork Details
- Title: Dressing gown
- Date: 1879
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: silk
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Clara L. Ryder, 1929
- Object Number: 2009.300.71a, b
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Japanese
ca. 1875
Japanese
1896–98
Japanese
ca. 1880
Japanese
1896–98
probably Japanese
1870–79
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 complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.