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
  • 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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Woman’s Under-Kimono (Nagajuban) with Piano Keys and Libretti from Two Songbooks - Japan - Shōwa period (1926–89) - The Metropolitan Museum of Art