A Patched Indigo Dyed Hemp Kasuri Kimono: Beautiful Blues

early twentieth century
38" x 45", 96.5 cm x 114.25 cm

Shown inside-out, this beautifully colored long jacket is hand stitched from what appears to be Omi jofu, the luxury-quality, beautiful, hemp or ramie, kasuri cloth which was woven in what is now present day Shiga prefecture.

The body of the jacket seems to have been altered--shortened, really--from an existing garment.  There are four types of asa or bast-based kasuri cloth which can be seen on this garment, each of which is beautifully colored in a mid-tone, very clear blue.  Just lovely.

The stitching and the placement of the patching is impeccable. It seems that after this jacket was made (or re-assembled) it was barely, if ever, worn: the patches and the base cloth are in quite good, crisp condition.

The placement of pattern-against-pattern is visually wonderful and the overall condition is good.

A beauty.

Very recommended.