A work made of linen, silk, and gilt-paper strip; plain, twill, and satin weaves with secondary binding warp and supplementary patterning wefts, with plied cords.

Kesa

Early 20th century, Meiji period (1868–1912)

Japan

A number of Japanese sects found the large size of some kesa based on Chinese models so cumbersome that they developed their own more manageable versions. A small five-column kesa (a type known as the rakusa) was designed with shoulder straps and worn like a halter around the neck. A slightly larger version of the rakusa without an ivory ring, such as this example, was favored by the Jodo sect.

Linen, silk, and gilt-paper strip; plain, twill, and satin weaves with secondary binding warp and supplementary patterning wefts, with plied cords

Textiles