Black silk haori, gold and silver thread embroidery, one crest
Golden Stream
160 €
Only one in stock
Each kimono is bought one at a time in Japan; we will not have another. These are authentic vintage Japanese kimono: each one has been worn, then carefully kept, before it came this far. It is not new, and that is where its value lies. The marks of time — the patina, the light wear — are photographed and described; they are part of the piece.
Description
A black haori, quiet from a distance. Come closer, and three silver streams cross the back and sleeves — and at each bend, a cluster of flowers in gold thread leans toward the water.
The black ground is not empty space: it is what makes the gold and silver catch the light. Nothing repeats exactly — each cluster sits alone, as if placed at the edge of a real stream.
Worn open, over a shirt or a simple dress, it becomes a long, understated jacket that only reveals itself in the light.
Its story
"The flowing river never stops, and yet the water is never the same." So opens the Hōjōki, written in 1212 by the monk Kamo no Chōmei. Every Japanese person knows that first line by heart.
The motif of flowing water, ryūsui, carries the same idea: what keeps moving does not wear out, it renews itself. It is embroidered to wish for a life that does not stand still, and to keep stagnation away. The flowers on the bank change with the seasons; the water goes on.
On the back, a small white crest, just one. On a black haori, that single crest makes it a dressed garment, the one worn over the kimono to go out, to pay a visit or attend a ceremony.
Details
- Length
- 71 cm / 28.0"
- Yuki (back to cuff)
- 61 cm / 24.0" — cuff-to-cuff span 122 cm / 48.0"
- Body width
- 56.5 cm / 22.2"
- Sleeve
- 45 cm / 17.7" long, 32 cm / 12.6" wide
- Material
- Silk. White silk lining with a woven pattern.
- Motif
- Flowing water (silver thread), flower clusters (gold thread)
- Crest
- One crest on the back
- Condition
- First grade. No visible stain in the photos.
- Worn
- Open, as a short jacket
Shipping
Sent from France, carefully folded and wrapped in Japanese paper. Times and rates are set out in the terms of sale. Returns accepted within fourteen days, except for pieces altered to measure.
Care
Dry clean only. Hang in the shade. Never rub the metallic threads.