ticketsMember | Make a donation

Noh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Bamboo and Young Pines on Bands of Red and White

19th century
Not on view
This resplendent Noh costume presents a wealth of auspicious symbolism on a background of horizontal bands. Green and gold pine and bamboo flourish on the wintry white bands, and continuous golden patterns of hexagons and interlocking circles grace the red. Pine and bamboo, also seen on the smaller robe shown in this case, traditionally represent winter and a joyous new year. The hexagonal pattern is associated with longevity because of its similarity to a turtle's shell, and the design of interlocking circles, termed shippō (literally, "seven treasures"), lends an aura of prosperity. The resist-dyeing of the warps, reserved in white and dyed in red, imparts a pleasing softness to the boundaries between the bands.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 紅白段竹若松模様唐織
  • Title: Noh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Bamboo and Young Pines on Bands of Red and White
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: 19th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Silk twill weave with resist-dyed warps and supplementary weft patterning (karaori)
  • Dimensions: Overall: 65 1/4 x 54 in. (165.7 x 137.2 cm)
  • Classification: Costumes
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, by exchange, 1979
  • Object Number: 1979.408
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Three Gods of Good Fortune Visit the Yoshiwara; or “Scenes of Pleasure at the Height of Spring”, Chōbunsai Eishi Japanese, Handscroll; ink and color on silk, Japan
Three Gods of Good Fortune Visit the Yoshiwara; or “Scenes of Pleasure at the Height of Spring”
Chōbunsai Eishi
early 19th century
Six Jewel Rivers , Sakai Ōho Japanese, Six handscrolls; ink, color, and gold on silk, Japan

Six Jewel Rivers

Sakai Ōho
ca. 1839
Noh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Young Pines and Snow-Covered Bamboo on a Red Ground, Silk twill weave with supplementary weft patterning (karaori), Japan
Noh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Young Pines and Snow-Covered Bamboo on a Red Ground
Japan
19th century
Noh Robe (Karaori) , Twill-weave silk with supplementary weft patterning in silk and gold-leaf paper strips (karaori), Japan

Noh Robe (Karaori)

Japan
first half 19th century
Noh Robe (Atsuita) with Young Pines, Cherry Blossoms, and Dandelions, Twill-weave silk brocade, Japan
Noh Robe (Atsuita) with Young Pines, Cherry Blossoms, and Dandelions
Japan
first half of the19th century

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

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.