Kesa
19th century, Edo period (1789–1868)/ Meiji period (1868–1912)
Medium
Silk; plain weave self-patterned by rows of gauze crossings, embroidered with silk
Dimensions
109.6 × 176.8 cm (43 1/8 × 69 5/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
183116
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
While this work may initially appear to be a decorative hanging showing various forms of marine life, closer inspection reveals that it is indeed a kesa pieced into a composition of seven columns. The embroidered decoration is not aquatic at all but rather consists of three varieties of motifsa phoenix, Paulownia flowers and leaves, and the family crest of the Tokugawa family, which ruled Japan during the Edo period. From each of these motifs emerge three or four curving tendrils. Unpatterned a...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...