Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Noh Costume (Karaori) with Cherry Blossoms and Fretwork

first half of the 18th century
Not on view
An intense chromatic effect is achieved in this robe, with its cherry blossoms in a range of colors scattered over bands of red and green. Fallen within moments after their full flowering, the blossoms poignantly evoke the transience of human life, a central theme in Noh drama. The inclusion of red places this costume in the category of robes "with color" (iroiri), making it appropriate for the role of a young woman.

Among the formal and technical characteristics that point to an eighteenth-century date for the robe are the absence of metallic threads, the allover patterning, and the length and softness of the textile's floating silk pattern wefts.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 紅緑段紗綾形桜花模様唐織
  • Title: Noh Costume (Karaori) with Cherry Blossoms and Fretwork
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: first half of the 18th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Silk, brocaded twill
  • Dimensions: Overall: 65 1/2 x 64 1/2 in. (166.4 x 163.8 cm)
  • Classification: Costumes
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1919
  • Object Number: 19.88.2
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
Helmet (<i>Zukinnari Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, Japanese
Helmet (Zukinnari Kabuto)
Japanese
16th century
Buddhist Vestment (Kesa) with Pattern of Flowing Water, Chrysanthemums, Fishing Nets, and Waterwheels, Twill-weave silk brocaded with silk (karaori), Japan
Buddhist Vestment (Kesa) with Pattern of Flowing Water, Chrysanthemums, Fishing Nets, and Waterwheels
Japan
18th century
Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese
Armor (Gusoku)
Armorer Helmet bowl signed Saotome Ietada
Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
16th and 18th centuries
Noh Costume (Karaori) with Cypress Fans and Moonflower (Yūgao) Blossoms, Twill-weave silk with brocading in silk and supplementary-weft patterning in silk and metallic thread, Japan
Noh Costume (Karaori) with Cypress Fans and Moonflower (Yūgao) Blossoms
Japan
18th–early 19th century
Koto (箏), Metalwork by Goto Teijo, 9th generation Goto master, Japan Japanese, Various woods, ivory and tortoiseshell inlays, gold and silver inlays, metalwork, cloth, laquer, paper,, Japanese
Koto (箏)
Metalwork by Goto Teijo, 9th generation Goto master, Japan
Workshop of Gotō Yūjō
early 17th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries and chronologies from The Met's art encyclopedia.

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 contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.