Kosode
Not on view
This men's kosode was stencil resist-dyed with a komon pattern called "sesame" (goma), a design reserved for the Nabeshima samurai clan. The pattern can be seen more easily in the accompanying photograph.
Komon stencils are often punch-carved. Practitioners of punch-carving make their own tools, one tool per shape and size for the punched-out areas of the design. In this stencil, the entire pattern consists of only four shapes: one curve, one short bar, and two sizes of dots. The delightful turtle crest occurs in five customary places on the kosode, one on each side of the chest in the front, one in the center back, and one on the back of each sleeve.
No image available
