Fabric Decorative Art

Japanese two-panel screen: gold leaf on paper. 19th century gold leaf mounted to mulberry paper. Unlike other gold screens, this screen was made with early 19th century heavy gold leaf which gives it a special luster. This type of screen was often used as a backdrop for flower arranging, or sculptures. No...

Extraordinary Japanese contemporary captivating highly collectible oshie decorative art piece with a three-dimensional effect, a Japanese traditional decorative art with a “yoroi” or “samurai armor” design in red, black and gold. It depicts an extremely intricate and highly decorated Japanese armor, and demonstrates the Fine materials and the attention to details that go into creating oshie wall decorations. The artist has used exquisite antique silk brocades and silk to recreate this exceptional piece in oshie form. All of the geometric patterns in red on the side and the bottom of the yoroi, and all the intricate details in red throughout, are the result of an extremely time-consuming process of painstakingly wrapping red silk thread around blocks covered with thick black kimono fabric, making sure they are tightly aligned to create perfect squares, rectangles and lines. “Oshie” (literally, “pressed pictures”) is a traditional Japanese art form dating back to Edo period (1603-1868), and is said to have been born of the reluctance of ladies of the court to discard the magnificent silk kimonos and brocaded obi they have donned for a life time. The solution was to transform these opulent fabrics into stunning works of art. The frame is not included. Oshie resembles a carefully crafted jigsaw puzzle consisting of numerous pieces of kimono fabric padded with slightly varying thickness of cotton and painstakingly glued and ironed together to create an incredible three-dimensional picture. Highly detailed oshie contain hundreds of tiny pieces that are expertly aligned to express subtle gradations of color and pattern, as well as light and shade. In the final process, the details are characterized by painting and shading, and facial features are painted in miniature-like exactitude. Yoroi is armor worn by high-ranking samurai on horseback in Japan’s feudal age. Its box shape and the heavy weight due to the decorations did not allow much movement. Yoroi is covered with hundred of small iron or leather scales laced together using leather cords or braided silk. Differences in color, design and lacing served as identifying markers for individual clans. “Kabuto” or “helmet”, one of the yoroi components, served to protect and to impress. Like yoroi, it was decorated with colorful scales, and was often adorned with a family crest and wooden or deer horns. This breathtaking Oshie piece is the work of a life-long oshie artist who prides herself in the selection of the best available antique and vintage kimono and obi fabrics...

Set of four. Dore bronze. Profiles are bisque on velvet. Finely chased details. Possibly 19th century.

Extraordinary unique Japanese contemporary two panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring genryoku style handcrafted raised silk and brocade kimono in black, orange and gold on textur...

Exquisite contemporary Japanese two panel folding screen or "byobu" featuring genryoku style handcrafted silk raised kimono in cream and gold needlework on a mesmerizing red background. Tagasode is the way a genryoku kosode kimono is hung over a kimono rack...

Extraordinary Japanese vintage (circa 1935) extremely intricate embroidery with silk thread in gold and stunning shades of orange on silk cloth, used in the presentation of ceremonia...