6838: 1930s-50s Japanese Meisen Silk Fabric Piece 62in Abstract

Vintage Japanese Textiles:
1930s-50s Meisen Silk Fabric Piece
(Abstract)
Arai-Hari

Width: 14 inches / 35.56 cm
Length: 62 inches / 157.48 cm

Catalog# 6838:

US$20.00 per piece

Fabric History/Pedigree: Pieces received from traditional Japanese kimono cleaner/reconstructor called Arai-Hari -- see an excellent explanation of traditional Arai Hari by textile expert John Marshall,by click-pushing HERE.

Fabric Description: Lightweight meisen silk, slightly translucent, is estimated from 1930s-1950s; Meisen is defined literally as 'common silk stuff'; and has grown in popularity in the last few years; Meisen from that period are usually larger bold patterns and bright colors. See close-ups.

Fabric Motif*: Unusual Japanese design (Western influences, less typically traditional Japanese) in an abstract lateral array of what look like non-traditional crests, each figure being 2.5 inches/6.4 cm tall on a black background; these figures are in even parallel rows and have a variety of perhaps floral -- but decidedly not classic-Japanese designs; The figures are in off-white and other colors used are pink, dark-red, grays and dark blues; As is typical in Meisen, note the impressionistic fuzzy edges; patterns same on both sides; this particular meisen has no sheen and is softer than most of the other meisens we see from this period.

Colors: Reminder that colors and contrast differ on different devices, so please refer to our text color descriptions.

*Cultural Background:

One explanation of such an apparently abstract design for Japanese kimono fabric -- motifs that are fairly non-Japanese in sensibility -- stems from immediate post-war (World War II)1945-1960 Japan: Sometimes we see pieces from this period when Japanese artists and designers felt free to be experimental ("let loose?"), often borrowing from Western abstract art or French Impressionism even in traditional Japanese motifs.

The explanation we have heard from scholars is that during World War II in Japan the creative arts (including making kimonos) artists felt repressed, due to Imperialistic governance at the time, which heavily controlled the citizenry. Some say that during the immediate years after losing the war, when Japan was devastated, and poverty was endemic, artists and designers felt free to let their creativity soar -- thus we see things like this being used to make a 'traditional' kimono. But this is just our humble opinion. :)

Note on colors: As all devices have different colorations and contrast, please use our text descriptions of colors to complement your sense of the color of the fabric.

Condition: Excellent