薄茶綾地唐松琴柱南天黍模様縫箔|Noh Costume (Nuihaku) with Millet and Nandina Berries on a Background of Pine Branches and Zither Bridges

Unknown

late 18th–early 19th century · Silk embroidery and gold leaf on silk twill · Asian Art

A nuihaku is a pliant, full-length costume for the Noh theater usually worn by actors playing the roles of women or young men. The term nuihaku is a compound word made up of two textile techniques: embroidery (nui) and application of metallic leaf (haku). On this robe, the embroidered design consists of scattered sprays of ripe millet and nandina plants with their characteristic red berries, while applied gold leaf defines alternating blocks of pine branches and zither (koto) bridges. All four motifs have auspicious symbolism in Japanese art.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 18th–early 19th century

Medium

Silk embroidery and gold leaf on silk twill

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1958