Piece from a Kosode with Boats and Flowers
Unknown Artist
Medium
Resist-dyed and painted silk satin damask (rinzu), embroidered with silk and metallic thread
Dimensions
Sight: 11 5/16 x 8 7/16 in. (28.7 x 21.4 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Dyed and Embroidered
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Sue Cassidy Clark, in honor of Dr. Barbara Brennan Ford, 2008
Accession Number
2008.335.29
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fragment from a *kosode*—a short-sleevedgarment that evolved into the modern kimono—captures the elegance of Edo-period Japan (1615–8). Adorning its silk satin damask surface are motifs of boats gliding amid vibrant flowers, evoking serene waterways and seasonal beauty. During the Edo era, a time of relative peace and urban prosperity, such garments became symbols of fashion for women of all classes, showcasing personal style through intricate designs. Crafted using resist-dyeing and painting techniques on luxurious *rinzu* (a satin damask weave with subtle raised patterns), th...