Description
A very lucky young boy in Japanese society wore this marvelous Silk Boy’s Kimono for Boys’ Day. This marvelous depiction of Sparrows (“Suzume”) flying among the Bamboo (“Take”) is reminiscent of the work of Ikeno Taiga in the 18th century. This lovely rendition of his art has a spontaneous quality to it, while the sparrows and bamboo are nicely defined. The thin bamboo bends under the weight of the Snow (“Yuki”) as the birds decide whether or not to rest. This small bird has the reputation for incessant chattering, which has suggested the common description of loquacious people being “as talkative as a sparrow.” On a nicer note, the chirps the sparrow makes sound like the word for loyalty, which gains much merit for the small bird. The sparrow in bamboo is a popular pattern in Japan. As revealed in a famous Japanese folktale called “The Sparrow with the Cut Tongue,” the sparrow also exemplifies the virtue of repaying one’s obligations; while bamboo is considered versatile, graceful and auspicious as well as strong and flexible.
This lovely work of art has been hand stenciled using the “Rice Paste Resist” or “Tsutsugaki” method on hand woven Silk. The colors reflect the age of the art, as they come from natural dyes. The Family Crest, “Mon,” appears 5 times on the shoulders and back of the garment and indicates that it was to be worn for formal occasions. This is a very unusual Crest that is rarely found. Ribbons, ropes and cords are most often seen in relation to various knots which are attributed with powers to influence and eliminate evil. Here, in a very distinctive ribbon tie, it would most likely be associated with the treasures of the Buddhists and Taoists.
A Certificate of Authenticity is included.
TTAC will personally pack and ship via UPS at company expense within the continental U.S.