Textile ArtsJapanese19th century

Buddhist Priest's Robe (Kesa) with Decoration of Bamboo and Ornamented Fans

19th century

Description

A Buddhist priest's robe known in Japan as a kesa (Sanskrit, kasaya), this rectangular garment is made up of mulitple pieces of the same cloth that together form a patchwork of rectangles and squares framed within a border. The fabric has a rich brown ground patterned with stalks of bamboo created through the use of supplementary wefts of gold and green threads. Images of multicolored arc-shaped folding fans appear scattered over the bamboo-covered surface; designs of flowers and plants were embroidered onto the faces of the fans with multicolored silk threads.

Classification

Textile Arts

Medium

Compound-weave silk with supplementary gold wefts; selected motifs embroidered with polychrome silk threads

Culture

Japanese

Period

Edo period, 1615-1868

Century

19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

H. 116.2 x W. 208.9 cm (45 3/4 x 82 1/4 in.)

Provenance

[T.Z. Shiota, San Franciso, by 1939], sold; to Louis V. Ledoux Collection, New York (1939-1948), by descent; to his son L. Pierre Ledoux, New York (1948-2001), by inheritance; to his widow Joan F. Ledoux, New York, (2001-2013), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2013. Footnotes: 1. Louis V. Ledoux (1880-1948) 2. L. Pierre Ledoux (1912-2001) 3. On long term loan to Harvard Art Museums from 1985 to 2013.