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Object Timeline

1956

  • We acquired this object.

2013

2015

2019

2024

  • You found it!

Child's Kimono (Japan)

This is a Child's kimono. It is dated late 18th century and we acquired it in 1956. Its medium is cotton and its technique is stencil resist (katazome) on plain weave. It is a part of the Textiles department.


During the Edo (1603–1868) and Meiji (1868–1912) periods, most Japanese people wore fabrics dyed with indigo—a plant-based dye that produces shades of blue. But while these relatively sober tones were generally favored for adults, brightly colored textiles were considered appropriate for children. This tiny kimono, possibly for an infant, features a vibrant blue-and-gold decoration intended to invoke more expensive techniques like embroidery. Its repeating pattern is distinctively uneven, suggesting that it may be the result of a combination of different dying processes involving stencils and resist.

Its dimensions are

H x W (neck to hem): 31.8 × 48.9 cm (12 1/2 × 19 1/4 in.)

Cite this object as

Child's Kimono (Japan); cotton; H x W (neck to hem): 31.8 × 48.9 cm (12 1/2 × 19 1/4 in.); 1956-64-14

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Katagami.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18410687/ |title=Child's Kimono (Japan) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=18 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>