MARLA MALLETT: KIMONO
Vintage Japanese Kimono
The elegant Japanese kimono on these pages are one-of-a-kind works of textile art that can either be displayed or worn. A range of decorative approaches is shown in these kimonos: intricate embroidery in satin stitch or metallic couching, delicate shaded hand painting, applied gold foil, elaborate brocading, and intricate ikat or tie dye. For an explanation of these techniques, go to Japanese Kimono Decorating Techniques. Styles range from austere geometrics or subtle floral motifs to bold, dramatic statements--from subtle elegance to festive exuberance. To sum up, in our collections we have focused on hand-decorated textile expressions, rather than the ordinary machine-printed garments that dominate the market.
These kimono, uchikake, shiromuku, tomesode, furisode, hikizuri, haori, and obi date from the late 1800s through the 1970s. All are in good condition--pristine--with no tears or damaged areas. Unlike new garments, however, lovely vintage kimonos may have tiny faint areas of minor discoloration -- a patina of age and use that is acceptable to most people who prefer beautiful early pieces. I have chosen the garments on these pages carefully, but no sale is final until you have inspected the pieces sent to you and you decide that they please you also.
A NOTE ON SIZES: If you are interested in wearing vintage kimono, garments measuring 48" across the shoulders/arms fit sizes 2-4-6-8-10, and those measuring at least 50" across fit sizes 2-4-6-8-10-12-14. All are long, by Western standards, as Japanese women pulled them up to the exact length required and held them in place with an obi. Westerners often wear them open or with sashes or chain belts, and bloused. Haori--short jackets--were worn open. Uchikake--wedding kimono--with their heavy padded hems, were also worn open, and trailing.
Click on the inventory numbers below to see full view photos and large details.
Japanese Kimono
1940s.
Silk faille with brocaded motif.
Japanese Kimono
1980s.
Silk, with sumi-e hand painted
floral decoration.
K-9195
Japanese Furisode
Late 1950s.
Rinzu silk with yuzen dyeing and
shibori
K-8803.
Japanese Kimono
1950s.
Silk crepe with lattice design.
K-8830
Japanese Irosode
Meiji period, circa 1910.
Woman's formal kimono of figured
rinzu silk decorated with yuzen dyeing
and small touches of silk embroidery. K-2615
Japanese Shibori Furisode
Early Showa period, 1935-1940.
Young woman's kimono with floral
tie-dye motif. Bokashi shading on a
rinzu silk lining.
K-4311
Japanese Kasuri Kimono
Late 1930s or early 1940s.
Silk kimono with double ikat design.
K-5302
Japanese Kimono
1940s or early 1950s.
Chirimen silk crepe with yuzen
dyeing and gold couching
K-9897
Japanese Kasuri Kimono
1940s.
Silk kimono with warp ikat
patterning.
K-4563
Japanese Irosode
Late 1950s.
Chirimen silk crepe formal kimono
with yuzen dyeing and embroidery.
K-8804
Japanese Uchikake
1950s.
Rinzu silk wedding kimono with
gold, silver and silk embroidery
K-9524
Japanese Kimono
1970s or 1980s.
Silk with stencil-style floral design.
K-9175
Japanese Uchikake
Meiji Period, 1870s.
Yuzen dyeing and sumi-e painting;
gold embroidered accents.
K-7625
Japanese Tomesode
1950s.
Chirimen silk crepe with yuzen
dyeing and gold couching.
K-9390
Japanese Shibori Furisode
Early Taisho period, 1912-1920
Young woman's kimono with tie-dye,
yuzen dyeing, gold and silver surihaku,
and silk embroidery.
K-4309
Japanese Tomesode
1950s.
Chirimen silk crepe formal kimono with
yuzen dyeing and gold surihaku.
K-7780
Japanese Child's Kimono
Early Meiji Period: 1868 - 1880. Girl's lightly padded kimono with yuzen dying and sumi-e hand painting.
K-5598
MARLA MALLETT
1690 Johnson Road NE
Atlanta, GA 3030\6 USA
Phone: 404-872-3356
E-mail: marlam@mindspring.com