I don’t know if anyone remembers that I made a resolution only to buy really special pieces. Unfortunately, my complete and utter lack of dedication has pretty much thrown that to the wayside, but I am trying to keep an eye out for particularly spectacular items. I blame BikaBika for this, she posted the link to the auction on the Immortal Geisha forums and I knew then and there that I needed to have this item. Thankfully Naomi was there to help me get it through YJA. It finally arrived in the box of stuff I mentioned last Friday, and I was so excited to finally get it so I could see it in person and write about it.
I’ve always been fascinated by architectural motifs on kimono, but I’d never seen one with a mosque on it. In particular, the blue dome and heavy Moorish ornamentation would suggest that this is the Shah Mosque in Iran. The yuzen dye work is absolutely stunning, the whole piece looks like a soft painting but the details up close are breathtaking. The silk is incredibly lush as well, it’s got an interesting nubby texture, almost like shibori but it’s woven into wave-like stripes and not part of the actual visual pattern.
I have several coordinations in mind for this particular kimono, including one using the gorgeous Moorish Arches obi I received as a mystery gift, but also a more subdued modern look. Hopefully I will find the time for one or both of them in the near future.
Bebe Taian
CHOKO Blog
Gion Kobu
Yes! I absolutely love this kimono!!! It makes me wonder though…there must not be a very high demand for a mosque kimono in a predominately Shinto/Buddhist/no religion culture. What prompted the making of this kimono? And not only for there to be a mosque, but a very specific mosque as the motif? I wonder if it was specially made for some event or important person.
Oh, btw, do you have a close-up photo of the building on the sleeve? I wanted to compare it to the other buildings surrounding the mosque and see if I could identify it. 🙂
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I’ve put it away but I’ll take a close-up for you on the weekend 😀
I wonder the same thing though, it’s really such an odd thing to put on. It’s also a relatively large kimono, even by modern standards. I almost wonder if it was made for some kind of diplomatic event, for some visiting Persian woman to wear or something.
Wow! I really love this. It looks so much like a photogragh rather than fabric work. I especially like the dusky sunset going on.
It definitely does – the silk painting is so ridiculously detailed.