A Hand Written Shrine Banner: Dated Meiji 23 or 1891

dated 1891
including tabs on each side: 55" x 15 1/4",

This is an old textile, a hand painted Shinto shrine banner which is dated to Meiji 23 or 1891--it is hand stitched from hand woven cotton.

This banner would have been attached to a vertical bamboo pole and would have been exhibited outside a shrine; banners like this commemorate a special day and they often honor donations and endowments from a patron.  The kanji or Chinese characters are hand drawn.

This banner is in good condition for its age but there are ingrained dirt and creases, scuffing a stain to the lower left hand corner.

Recommended.