A Resist Dyed Festival Obi: Well-Worn

mid twentieth century
59" x 3", 150 cm x 7.5 cm

This is a resist dyed cotton obi of a type that was worn at Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine festivals: the diagonal striping is characteristic of this kind of festival-related sash.

As can be seen by the markings to the cloth--made by what seems to be a lot of wear--the obi was worn by someone who was helping to celebrate whatever festival was ongoing. 

The obi is finished by machine stitching and it shows evidence of a good deal of wear by a spirited festival reveler.