Edo Period Deerskin Fireman's Jacket

A Japanese Shirushi-Banten (Fireman's Coat) circa 19th century of Edo Period. The robe was made from a heavy cotton fiber and decorated with a dramatic dragon in the dark cloud scheme using Tsutsugaki, a free-hand resist dye method. A dragon with claws clenching pearls and red-orange fire motifs was artistically depicted slithering in and out of dark swirling clouds from the front to the back of the robe. The spatial composition was superb as well as the stylized motion. The indigo blue colored neck lapel bears scription indicating the location of where the robe belonged: the Kannon-Ji of Magino District (The Temple of Kannon; In Japan, the goddess of mercy Guanyin was known as Kannon). This temple is located in Higashine City of Yamagata Prefecture in Northern Japan. On the back, there is a large Kanji Character "Space" in the center, matching the first symbol of the location "Magino" in the front. It is likely that instead of a functional fire-fighting gear, the robe was used in festival parade by firemen, perhaps sponsored by the temple for the town event. When fully extended as shown in photo 1 and 2, it measures 50" W x 37" H. A beautiful and well-preserved sample of Japanese textile art.

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