Textile ArtsJapanese18th century

Buddhist Priest's Robe (Kesa) with Decoration of Phoenixes (Hō-ō) and Flowers amid Clouds

18th 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 is a pale green-blue silk decorated with long-tailed phoenixes, flowers, and golden clouds. The phoenixes and flowers were embroidered utilizing multicolored silk threads; selected outlines of motifs were embroidered with gold threads. The clouds were hand-painted on using gold pigments.

Classification

Textile Arts

Medium

Pale green-blue silk with cloud motifs painted in gold pigment; additional motifs embroidered in polychrome silk and gold threads

Culture

Japanese

Period

Edo period, 1615-1868

Century

18th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

H. 104.1 x W. 200.7 cm (41 x 79 in.)

Provenance

[Roland Koscherak, NY, by 1932], sold; to Louis V. Ledoux Collection, New York (1932-1948), 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.