Vintage & Antique Japanese Fabrics by Piece: Other Type Fabrics

7775-1 1930s-50s Japanese Meisen Silk 59in.Pc.(AraiHari) Chrysanthemums Plum Blossom

77752: 1950s Meisen Silk, Flowers, 55in.

Catalog# 7775

1930s to 1950s Japanese Textiles:
From Arai-Hari Cleaners

Japanese Kimono Meisen Silk Fabric Piece
Distinctive Floral (Chrysanthemums, Plum Blossoms)

Width:14 inches / 35.56 cm
Length: 59 inches / 149.86 cm

US$19.00 per piece
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Item Details and Description

Fabric History/Pedigree: 1930s to 1950s silk fabric pieces received from traditional Japanese kimono cleaner/reconstructor called Arai-Hari -- see an excellent explanation of traditional Arai Hari by textile expert John Marshall, by click-pushing HERE.
Fabric Description: Lightweight Meisen silk, slightly translucent, slightly stiff, minimum sheen; the background is a cream color with flowers and leaves as foreground over a nodular reticular pattern in light gray with charcoal colored dabs that measure just under 1/2 inch / 12.7mm diameters; The foreground designs are of chrysnatheums (largest about 3 inches / 7.62 cm diameters), plum blossoms. stylized pink bamboo leaves, all arranged randomly; The background is rather interesting, a web sort of design with nodules at intersections; Colors used: mums are black with red, other flowers/leaves are in varying pale blue and blue-grays, pinks, and a few instances of mustard yellow (please see closeups);

As typical of meisen silks, the figures and line edges are intentionally fuzzy; this is a somewhat unusual meisen design, distinctive; This piece same on both sides.
Colors: Please NOTE that colors and contrast differ on each device so please use our text descriptions to complement your sense of the fabric.
Condition: Excellent

Background Information on Meisen Kimonos:

Meisen is defined literally in our Kenkyuusha dictionary as "...common silk stuff"; meisen fabrics (or garments made from them) are currently called 'meisen'; Meisen kimono were made similarly to kasuri (ikat) , though meisen usually have very colorful patterns with distinct -- often more modern -- motifs and a slight sheen; 1950s meisen have intentionally fuzzy, almost Impressionistic look and often larger designs; Kasuri/ikat, of course, is mostly indigo blue and some white with black. To learn more about kasuri click here.

To see pictures of meisen silk vintage kimonos from Google, touch HERE.

Other Cultural Notes: The best discussion we've found of Meisen silk fabric was on an old blog post by Japundit, excerpted here*:

"...Young women have rediscovered(Japan Times) the kimono, and you can see them out in Harajuku on the Sunday fashion parade. There's even a term for these girls -- not surprisingly they are called "kimono girls." There are even some nice books documenting the trend which you can check out at J-List and are definitely worth having if you are at all into fashion.

"The meisen kimono in particular has become very popular. These kimono were made in the first half of the twentieth century, and were characterized by a glossy sheen, and brilliant patterns. There is often a sort of blurry quality to the silks...."

[*original article has been pulled]

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