A Lovely Taisho Era Shibori Yukata: Wisteria Motif

ca. early to mid twentieth century
53" x 48", 134.5 cm x 122 cm

This is a shibori yukata, a yukata being an unlined, casual cotton kimono that was worn to attend social gatherings in summer, or at home, while visiting a hot spring, en route to a public bath or during festival times.  This yukata, being beautifully dyed in the shibori method and rather fancy its design, was probably worn out and about in summer for social occasions.  It is entirely hand stitched.

This kind of large patterned, grey, blue and white shibori is of the type produced in the early to mid century, during the Taisho period, 1912-1926, a time when kimonos sported a kind of "modern" look by using large scale patterns, sometimes quite graphic.  We have featured this yukata on our blog, here.

The motif seen here is a variation on the wisteria or fuji motif, a traditional Japanese pattern that is especially fitting on a yukata, as yukatas are often patterned with designs that are meant to be cooling to the eye and the mind.

Notice the square of cloth which is hand stitched to the seat of the yukata's interior: just a lovely detail.

This is an especially lovely yukata, the indigo still quite vibrant and the design exceedingly handsome. There are about four, faint stains the size of a coin which are depicted on the accompanying detail photos.

Recommended.