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Obi

Japanese

Artwork Details

Obi
20th century
Japanese
silk, brocade
12 x 140 in. (30.48 x 355.6 cm)
Gift of Howard and Patricia Yamaguchi
2013/2.492

Description

Subject Matter:

This is a Fukuro Obi in Rokutsu-gara.
Fukuro Obi is double-layered  single sided obi in which two separately woven surfaces and back pieces of cloth are stitched together. This type of obi is typically only worn at weddings or other formal occasions.

Gara refers to the orientation, arrangement, and surface area of the patterns and pertains to a specific trend and obi tying style.

The Rokutsuu gara type derives from a specific tying style, the Otaiko musubi.  The areas of the obi that are visible in this style are patterned while the parts that are obscured are left blank. In terms of surface area, roughly sixty percent is patterned while forty percent is left blank.


 

Physical Description:

All black fukuro (single-sided) Obi with black embroidered floral (grape) design throughout. 

Usage Rights:

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