柳に燕模様袈裟|Buddhist Priest's Robe (Kesa) with Pattern of Swallows among Willow Branches
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Brocaded twill with supplementary weft patterning; silk and metallic thread
Dimensions
Overall: 48 x 78 in. (121.9 x 198.1cm)
Classification
Textiles-Costumes
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1919
Accession Number
19.93.9
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Buddhist Priest's Robe (Kesa) with Pattern of Swallows among Branches* hails from Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), a time of relative peace and cultural flourishing. Craft in the 18th century by an unknown artist, this garment for Buddhist priests measures an impressive 48 x inches, designed to drape elegantly over the body during rituals. The delicate motif of swallows flitting among willow branches captures the grace of nature, a common theme in Japanese art symbolizing seasonal renewal and poetic harmony. The robe's medium—brocaded twill with supplementary weft patterning i...