Untitled

Unknown

19th century · Leather, silk · Asian Art

During the Edo period most kawabaori were used by townsmen who wore them for protection from the cold and for festival wear. The lively pattern of large shrimp resulted from a resist process called kataoki in which the pattern was reserved in the natural white color of the leather, while the rest was smoked to achieve a warm golden brown. The coat is reversible, with a pattern of stripes reserved in white on its other side.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Leather, silk

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of John B. Elliott through the Mercer Trust, 1999