Description
This is an excellent example of a Japanese Man’s “Haori” or formal topcoat. It is entirely handmade, totally reversible, and has represented the height of formal ware for Japanese men for centuries . The outer layer of the garment is a very heavy, high quality, solid black satin silk with the exception of 5 white circles within which a pictorial symbol of the family crest or “Mon” has been painted. The family crest is based on that of crossed feathers (“Takanoha”), which carried a military significance dating from the feudal era when it was customary for officers to display feathers at the side of their headgear. Several shrines adopted the falcon feather (“Takaha”) as their official emblem, thus providing a religious dimension stressed by the family using this as their crest.
What makes the Haori for men so intriguing is the fact that the main source of decoration is on the inside of the garment (shown left), or the lining. The inner back panel of this dramatic Haori has been hand woven in an unusual and rare shade of silvery, powder blue silk. The design is composed of a series of individual insets, which document the important elements in this wearer’s life. The panels deal with symbols and landscapes including the bridge under the moon, the signpost along a byway, the peony caught in the flow of a stream, and bamboo, long considered a good omen. The word “take” for bamboo is homophonous with the words for warrior and bravery, reinforcing the family crest and the supposition of the family that this Haori belonged to a member of the Samurai or warrior class.
A Certificate of Authenticity is included.
TTAC will personally pack and ship via UPS at company expense within the continental U.S.
(price reduced from $1050.00 due to slight discoloration on upper back inside seam)