Kesa
Late 18th or early 19th century, Late Edo period (1789–1868)
Medium
Silk; satin damask and twill weaves with secondary binding warps and supplementary patterning wefts; stenciled silver foil
Dimensions
122 × 176.5 cm (48 × 69 1/2 in.); Full pattern repeat in Heri: 13.9 × 5.7 cm (5 1/2 × 2 1/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
183118
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Most of the kesa in this exhibition, as well as in the museum's collection, were made from multiple pieces of one fabric. Yet the patchwork nature of these examples is often difficult to discern, sometimes evident only from changes in pattern. This example, made for the Jodo sect, was made from two different fabrics and therefore has a very readable composition: the lattice is distinct from the squares forming each column.
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...