Ensemble
Unknown Artist
ca. 1906
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
(a): 71 1/4 × 62 in. (181 × 157.5 cm) (b): 64 1/8 × 54 3/4 in. (162.9 × 139.1 cm) (c): 13 ft. 3 5/8 in. × 12 5/8 in. (405.4 × 32.1 cm) (d): 4 × 10 1/2 in. (10.2 × 26.7 cm) (e): 4 × 10 1/2 in. (10.2 × 26.7 cm) (f): 5 1/2 × 4 × 10 3/8 in. (14 × 10.2 × 26.4 cm) (g): 5 1/2 × 4 × 10 3/8 in. (14 × 10.2 × 26.4 cm)
Classification
Main dress-Womenswear
Culture
Japan
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. David J. Colton, 1961
Accession Number
C.I.61.2a–g
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk *Ensemble* from Japan, dating to around 1906, offers a glimpse into the refined world of early Taishō-era womenswear. Comprising multiple components—including expansive robes measuring over five feet in length, a long sash-like obi, and delicate accessories—this outfit exemplifies the layered sophistication of traditional Japanese attire. Gifted to the Metropolitan Museum Art in 1961, it reflects the artistry of anonymous craftspeople who blended functionality with aesthetic splendor during a time of cultural transition between Meiji modernization and enduring traditions. ...