A Pieced Han Juban: Very Old Luxury Silk Fragments

late nineteenth century
26" x 43", 66 cm x 109 cm

This beautifully designed and executed, fully lined han juban or half under-kimono is made of lightweight, red-dyed wool and fragments of yuzen dyed and embroidered 19th century crepe silk.

The lushly dyed, embroidered and gold-thread couched silk fragments are luxury cloth that was taken from a kimono owned by a woman of prominent social standing.

The symmetrical arrangement of silk and wool is beautifully planned and organized. The maker of this han juban certainly chose the silk fragments carefully in order to show wonderful captions taken from the larger piece.

The han juban is fully lined in yellow dyed cotton, probably a botanical dye was used to create this warm, sunny color.

Please note the sprays of moth holes to the wool material which the accompanying detail photos aim to illustrate.

Recommended.