A Group of Three Narrow Meisen Silk Pieces: Mid Century Design

mid twentieth century
each, approximately: 60" x 10", 152.5 cm x 25.5 cm

This is set of three lengths of meisen silk, a kind of "everyday" silk that was developed in the Meiji era (1868 - 1912) at a time when Japan's strict sumptuary laws were lifted: these laws dictated what people were allowed to wear and consume (among many other things), notable among the strictures was a ban against common people wearing silk.

Meisen represents the democratization of silk in a changing Japan and it was consumed readily.  Its boom market prompted huge manufacture, which, of course, meant that countless new designs needed to be developed.

Many of the classic meisen designs are based on Western design patterns, the best of which suggest a "Jazz age" feeling as this one does.

Meisen is a kind of machine aided kasuri cloth, the quality of silk being pedestrian as these were kimono that were not expensive and were meant to be worn on a regular basis as "town wear."

These panels are taken from such a kimono and each has only one selvedge as the piece has been cut upt its length. There are also ingrained creases from wear.