Woman’s Under-Kimono (Nagajuban) with Piano Keys and Libretti from Two Songbooks

ca. 1930s

Not on view

This under-kimono, an informal garment, is decorated with a set of diagonally arranged images of piano keyboards and libretti from two songbooks, including the “Lullaby of Edo” (“Edo komoriuta”), by opera singer Sekiya Toshiko (1904–1941), and the “Flowers of the Linden Tree” (“Bodaiju no hana”), by an unidentified woman named Takeko.

“Lullaby of Edo”

Sleep now, little baby girl.
When you grow up, you’ll be in Edo.
In the country, rapeseed flowers are in full bloom.
What presents did you get from your old home?
A toy drum and a flute,
A Daruma doll and a dog-shaped box!

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

白地唱歌集ピアノ鍵盤模様長襦袢
Title: Woman’s Under-Kimono (Nagajuban) with Piano Keys and Libretti from Two Songbooks
Period: Shōwa period (1926–89)
Date: ca. 1930s
Culture: Japan
Medium: Silk with printed design
Dimensions: 57 × 49 1/2 in. (144.8 × 125.7 cm)
Classification: Costumes
Credit Line: Purchase, Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift, 2018
Object Number: 2018.561
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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