Early 20th Century kimono textile art "Sealine ~Transitions~ " by ikasu Japan

This work uses an antique tomesode (festive kind of kimono) with fern design to evoke feelings of tranquility, harmony, and appreciation for the beauty of the environment. Can be used both vertically and horizontally. It is elegantly framed with paulownia wood originally used for kimono chest-of-drawers, and is filled with storytelling and sense of luxury. I used pieces of kimono that could no longer be used as clothing and kiritansu chest-of-drawers that would normally be discarded to create the ultimate upcycled piece. << Explanation of colors and patterns In Japanese traditional culture, ferns, particularly the Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum), hold several meanings and symbolisms: ・Elegance and Beauty: Ferns are admired for their graceful, delicate appearance and intricate leaf patterns. In Japanese aesthetics, they are appreciated for their natural beauty and are often used in gardens, landscapes, and floral arrangements to add a sense of refinement and elegance. ・Resilience and Perseverance: Ferns are known for their ability to thrive in diverse environments, including shady forests, rocky cliffs, and damp soil. Their resilience in the face of challenging conditions is seen as a symbol of endurance and perseverance. In Japanese culture, ferns may represent the ability to overcome adversity and flourish despite obstacles. ・Connection to Nature and Tranquility: Ferns are native to forested areas and are often associated with the natural world. In Japanese traditional culture, they symbolize a deep connection to nature and the importance of maintaining harmony with the environment. The lush green foliage of ferns evokes feelings of tranquility and peacefulness, making them popular motifs in Zen gardens and traditional landscape paintings. ・Purity and Simplicity: Ferns are emblematic of simplicity and purity in Japanese aesthetics. Their unassuming beauty and understated elegance reflect the principles of wabi-sabi, an aesthetic worldview that values imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. Ferns may be used in tea ceremonies, Ikebana (flower arranging), and other traditional arts to evoke a sense of tranquility and appreciation for life's fleeting moments. Overall, ferns in Japanese traditional culture symbolize elegance, resilience, connection to nature, purity, and simplicity. Their presence in art, literature, and landscape design underscores their enduring significance as symbols of natural beauty and spiritual resonance. << Characteristics of the fabric This vintage textile is hand-painted with a traditional Japanese technique called "yuzen". << About the frame Kiritansu - chest-of-drawers for kimono, is traditionally made from paulownia wood, a uniquely Japanese material closely tied to the world of kimonos. Paulownia wood is known as the lightest wood in Japan, prased for its natural luster, resistance to moisture, and resilience against cracking. Since ancient times, it has been used in crafting furniture, chests, and musical instruments. During the Edo period, it became customary to store cherished kimonos in paulownia chests...

<< Story behind the work Obi fabric I used for this artwork is taken from three different over 100-years-old antique sashes, and is framed in wood taken from antique ...

< The art piece uses two sides - front and reverse - of the same kimono, to show beautiful sea surrounding Japan, in hues and in late sunset, as a timelapse. The frame for this work is made of paulownia wood taken from antique Kiritansu - chest-of-drawers for kimono. I use antique kiritansu that can’t be used as furniture anymore to create basis and frames for my works. It adds them even more authentic atmosphere of traditional wabisabi spirit. Can you feel it? << Period / Story The kimono used in this piece was originally crafted during Showa period (around 1960ies). << Explanation and meaning of pattern and colors Sea waves, depicted in two color variations here, are a symbol of transience and Impermanence in Japanese culture. The ebb and flow of the tides, the ever-changing currents, and the relentless motion of the waves serve as reminders of the fleeting nature of life. This artwork featuring the sea convey themes of impermanence, reminding viewers to cherish the present moment and appreciate the beauty of life's fleeting moments. The theme of impermanence is strengthen by two colors of the sea - the lighter in early hues and the darker when the sun is just about to set in the sea. << About the frame This artwork frame is crafted from paulownia wood, a uniquely Japanese material closely tied to the world of kimonos, and it serves to convey the refined beauty of Japanese nature. Paulownia wood is known as the lightest wood in Japan, prased for its natural luster, resistance to moisture, and resilience against cracking. Since ancient times, it has been used in crafting furniture, chests, and musical instruments. Paulownia wood is closely linked to kimono culture. During the Edo period (17th cent.~), it became customary to store cherished kimonos in paulownia chests...

[Story behind the work] This work is inspired by the green color palette, and is framed in paulownia wood originally used for a kimono chest-of-drawers. It is elegantly framed with ...

A silk parchment scroll with a Camellia Flower painting, by Japanese artist Matsumura Keibun (1779-1843). The younger half-brother to Matsumura Goshun, founder of the Shijo schoo...

A Japanese silk Fukusa panel circa late 19th-early 20th century of Meiji Period. The front was beautifully decorated with Yuzen-zome, a labor intensive resist-dye technique invested by an artist monk Miyazaki Yuzensai (1654 -1736) of Edo period. The front cover likely depicts a scene from the Tale of Genji, showing a nobleman and his servant pays a visit to a lady in a fenced thatch-roof house under a high peak. The details of blossom trees and pines, as well as the characters, and scenery with a gradual color are astounding. It is telling that the Yuzen dying was used such an mastery. The piece has a red silk backing and still retains two red tassels on the lower corners as well as decorative stitches along the edges. There is a patched design on the back likely a Mon symbol (family crest). Fukusa is a traditional Japanese textile...

"The Garden of Tenryu-ji Temple" Mineral pigments on fabric in a black lacquer trim with bronze mounts. signature and seal read: Minagawa Taizo. ...

An obi in very good condition that can be utilized as a table runner, wall hanging.