Vintage Japanese Kimono Fabrics by Pieces: Japanese Textile Silk Fabric Swatches

6984:1930s-50s Japanese Meisen Silk Fabric Piece 58in. Arai-Hari Abstract

6984: 1940s Meisen Silk, Abstract,close1

Vintage Japanese Textiles:
1940s-1950s Meisen Silk Fabric Piece
Arai-Hari (Abstract)

Width: 14 inches / 35.56 cm
Length: 58 inches / 147.32 cm
(Atypical Abstract & Geometric Mesh Grids)

Catalog# 6984:

US$20.00 per piece

USA Shipping included under 4 pounds package weight

Fabric History/Pedigree: 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, translucent, is estimated from the 1940s-1950s; Meisen is defined literally as 'common silk stuff'; and has grown in popularity in recent years; Meisen from that period are usually larger bold patterns and bright colors, but this one is a distinctive and - to our eye - rather unusual designs for kimono fabric: While background is soft-white, fabric is mostly full of colorful designs; There are irregularly shaped parallel bands running lengthwise(vertically), alternating with tiny mesh designs as abstract columns; Colorful piece has many shades of the following colors: olive green, dark green, black, pink, mustard, deep and lighter reds, cream; This meisen does have slight fuzziness of lines, figures, and boundaries; patterns same on both sides; please see close-ups.

Cultural Note: At first glance, this fabric does not even seem to be a Japanese design, being atypical and having Western influences; In the immediate Post War (WWII)period, 1945 on, artists began expanding and incorporating creative themes from outside Japan. As a result, you begin to see things such as this; Also, under Imperial Japan wartime rule, artists and intellectuals were repressed; so felt freer once the war ended and created new looks like this one - blending traditional with Western designs.(This is just our opinion, YL);

Note on colors: As all devices have different colorations and contrast, please use our text descriptions of colors to complement your sense of the color of the fabric.

Condition: Excellent