Vintage & Antique Japanese Fabrics by Piece: Other Type Fabrics

7782: 1950s Japanese Meisen Silk 59in.Pc.(AraiHari) Cursive Floral Medallions Grid

Catalog# 7781

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

Japanese Kimono Meisen Silk Fabric Piece
Distinctive Floral & Cursive Medallions in Diagonal Grid Array

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

US$16.00 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: Thin summer lightweight Meisen silk, slightly translucent, lightly stiff, minimal sheen; the background is a soft white but with light gray reticular patterns of Asa no Ha ((Hemp Leaves Patterns) serving as background (very light and subdued, scarcely noticeable except up very close as most of the fabric is filled with the medallions grid; We interpret these medallion shapes as 2 types: one in cursive lines, the other floral elements, measuring 3.5 inches/8.89cm X 2.5inches/6.4cm wide; these medallions are in a symmetrical diagonally-oriented grid; This pattern is on both sides and like others we have here, at first glance one might not realize the pattern is Japanese; please see commentary in next item below; design colors: predominantly rusty-red, black, and pale red(within medallions themselves, please see closeups.
COMMENTARY: This highly modernistic, Western-influence sort of kimono fabric design was big after World War II (after 1945), as Japanese artists and designers felt liberated from the oppression in Japan during the war, and they experimented with many creative looks, like this one, keeping Japanese look but influenced by Western art -Impressionism, Abstracts - This is just our opinion, Yoko).

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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