Antique Japanese Brocade Kesa Monk's Robe Edo Period

View Similar Items

Antique Brocade Kesa Monk's Patched Robe Edo Period

Antique Japanese Embroidered Silk Kesa Monk's Robe Edo Period

Antique Framed Japanese Silk Kesa Monk's Robe Edo Period

Antique Japanese Brocade Monk's Robe Kesa Meiji Period

Magnificent Antique Japanese Woven Brocade Kesa Monk's Robe Meiji Period

Antique Silk Kesa Monk's Patched Robe Meiji Period

Japanese Monastery Robe Patchwork Kesa with inscription Edo Period

Japanese Edo Buddhist Monk Priest 7 Column Silk Brocade Kesa Ceremonial Robe

Japanese Brocade Noh Costume Kimono Robe Meiji Period

Japanese Buddhist Monk Priest 7 Column Silk Brocade Kesa Ceremonial Temple Robe

Japanese Ceremonial Brocade Jinbaori Vest Jacket

Framed Japanese Antique Embroidery Sennin Tapestry Meiji Period

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 18

Antique Japanese Brocade Kesa Monk's Robe Edo Period

About the Item

A Japanese Kesa (Monk's Vestment) made from thirteen columns of patchworks of shimmering woven brocades. The elaborate motifs feature repetitive hibiscus flowers within framework of scrolling pattern. Mostly golden, the petals occasionally turned blue and with the nature of patchwork, creates a random and delightful visual effect. Six silk square in contrasting patterns and colors (blue and white) were sewn to the four corners and one longitude side of the Kesa, completing the symbolism of the robe. The four squares in the corners represent the Four Heavenly Kings (Shi Tenno); while the two slightly larger squares in the middle section represent two compassionate bodhisattvas. The patches were apparently taken from a silk panel with imagery of peonies and phoenix. The back of the Kesa was lined with blue silk with subtle woven pattern, which if of a later replacement as it often happened. Kesa is derived from the Sanskrit word kasaya, meaning “dark colored,” a reference to the saffron colored robes worn by early Indian Buddhist monks. It is essentially a rectangular cloth originally sewn from patches of rags, being formless, it serves as a symbolism of the ascetic life of one's choosing. In Japan, since at least the Heian period (794–1185), the kesa has been worn by Buddhist priests as their outermost robe, draped over the left shoulder and attached under the right armpit. While it served some function of protection, it was more a signal of the wearer’s faith, and became increasingly elaborate over the centuries. During the Edo period (1600–1868), many kesa worn were patched together from exquisite silk brocade fabrics that were donated to the temples by members of the aristocracy, ruling military class, or wealthy merchants. By stitching the fabric into a patchwork robe, the monks concentrated their attention on the creation of a devotional work of art, every stitch part of an act of meditation on the teachings of the Buddha. The number of stripes (from 5 to up to 25) indicates the wearer’s rank and the occasion for which it was worn, the highest number of stripes usually only being worn by an abbot during festival ceremonies. The normal daily kesa generally have seven columns. The kesa on offer is more likely a ceremonial robe for special occasion.

Dimensions:
Height: 42.25 in (107.32 cm)Width: 77.75 in (197.49 cm)Depth: 0.1 in (2.54 mm)
Style:
Edo (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Brocade,Silk,Patchwork
Place of Origin:
Japan
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
19th century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Good antique textile condition. Some minor frays on the edges. One corner shows frays and thread losses as shown. Blue silk backing is of a later age.
Seller Location:
Atlanta, GA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU945034078972

More From This Seller

View All

Antique Brocade Kesa Monk's Patched Robe Edo Period

Located in Atlanta, GA

Kesa, known as "Jiasha" in Chinese and "Kasaya" in Sanskrit, is an out layer garment worn by the ordained Buddhist monks. Bearing a basic rectangular form, it developed originally in...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Textiles

Materials

Textile, Brocade

Antique Brocade Kesa Monk's Patched Robe Edo Period

$5,200

Antique Japanese Embroidered Silk Kesa Monk's Robe Edo Period

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Japanese Kesa (Monk's Vestment) made from thirteen columns of patchworks of fine shimmering silk fabric of a salmon orange color, the shade of which changed subtly from different a...

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Textiles

Materials

Brocade, Silk

Antique Japanese Embroidered Silk Kesa Monk's Robe Edo Period

$3,200

Antique Framed Japanese Silk Kesa Monk's Robe Edo Period

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Japanese Kesa (Monk's Vestment) made from thirteen columns of patchworks of brocades set within a border of the same material. The brocade was woven from a subtle color palette of ...

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Textiles

Materials

Brocade, Silk

Antique Framed Japanese Silk Kesa Monk's Robe Edo Period

$5,200

Antique Japanese Brocade Monk's Robe Kesa Meiji Period

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Japanese Kesa (Monk's Vestment) made from thirteen columns of patchworks of shimmering woven brocades. The elaborate motifs feature repetitive elaborat...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Textiles

Materials

Brocade, Silk

Antique Japanese Brocade Monk's Robe Kesa Meiji Period

$4,000

Magnificent Antique Japanese Woven Brocade Kesa Monk's Robe Meiji Period

Located in Atlanta, GA

A stunning Japanese Kesa (Monk's Vestment) made from thirteen columns of patchworks of shimmering woven brocades with luxuriant golden threads. Dated to late 19th century of Meiji Period, the elaborate woven motifs on this kesa feature repetitive roundels dragon and phoenix intermixed with peonies and chrysanthemum blossoms. Two shades of contrasting gold threads were used on a striking purplish-blue background, with a dark metallic thread for the outer border and a brighter thread for the main body. The brilliantly woven fabric was possibly recycled from Noh costumes...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Textiles

Materials

Brocade, Silk

Magnificent Antique Japanese Woven Brocade Kesa Monk's Robe Meiji Period

$5,800

Antique Silk Kesa Monk's Patched Robe Meiji Period

Located in Atlanta, GA

Kesa, known as "Jiasha" in Chinese and "Kasaya" in Sanskrit, is an out-layer garment worn by the ordained Buddhist monks. Bearing a basic rectangular form, it developed originally in...

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Textiles

Materials

Textile, Brocade

Antique Silk Kesa Monk's Patched Robe Meiji Period

$5,000

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Textiles

Materials

Textile, Brocade, Silk

Japanese Edo Buddhist Monk Priest 7 Column Silk Brocade Kesa Ceremonial Robe

$2,495

Japanese Buddhist Monk Priest 7 Column Silk Brocade Kesa Ceremonial Temple Robe

Located in Studio City, CA

A wonderful, beautifully ornamented and somewhat rare fully intact Japanese Buddhist monk/ priest's Kesa ceremonial silk robe featuring various colorful birds in flight. Kesa (which came from the Chinese word "kasaya") robes have been handmade/handstitched by monks/priests as an act of devotion as ceremonial robes for centuries in various Asian cultures (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, etc.). The kesa is a rectangular garment designed to be worn over the left shoulder (see example image). The robes are made (often in a patchwork column pattern ranging from five, seven, nine or more pannels) specifically for fully ordained Buddhist monks, priests and nuns and are made from donations of exquisite textiles from wealthy patrons of Japanese Buddhist temples. The robes were used in daily ceremonies, temple gatherings, and private meditation. Antique Kesa robes...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Textiles

Materials

Textile, Brocade, Silk

Japanese Buddhist Monk Priest 7 Column Silk Brocade Kesa Ceremonial Temple Robe

$2,995

Late Meiji Period Sleeping Kimono / Yogi, Japan

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Late Meiji Period sleeping Kimono / Yogi, Japan Yogi are a type of oversized sleeping kimono traditionally used in Japan. This kimono would have b...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Tribal Textiles

Materials

Cotton

Late Meiji Period Sleeping Kimono / Yogi, Japan

$1,750

Vintage Orange Silk Japanese Obi with Gold and Silver Lamé and Brocade

Located in Topeka, KS

Handsome vintage Japanese obi in orange silk with gold and silver lamé and brocade flower and leaf design. It is in wonderful vintage condition. We have detected a small dark spot on...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Japonisme Tapestries

Materials

Silk

Vintage Orange Silk Japanese Obi with Gold and Silver Lamé and Brocade

$495

Meiji Period Japanese Indigo Double Ikat Futon Cover

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Meiji period Japanese Indigo double ikat futon cover Japanese futon cover, a double ikat pattern in four panels depicting Kumamoto Castle with im...

Category

Antique 1890s Japanese Meiji Textiles

Materials

Cotton

Meiji Period Japanese Indigo Double Ikat Futon Cover

$2,200

Taisho-Early Showa Period Japanese Stencil-Dyed Summer Kimono with Bamboo Motif

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Taisho-Early Showa period Japanese Stencil-Dyed Summer Kimono with bamboo Motif A light-weight summer kimono woven of both cotton and silk, and patter...

Category