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This exquisite ceremonial boys' kimono possesses an extraordinary lightness - weighing only several ounces despite its formal construction - speaks to the exceptional quality of the silk and the masterful skill of its creators, who achieved maximum visual impact while maintaining the delicate hand essential for a child's ceremonial wear. The five large mon positioned at chest, back, and sleeves establish this as the most formal level of boys' attire, suitable for coming-of-age ceremonies, New Year celebrations, or other momentous occasions in a young man's life.
The artistic program unfolds through a sophisticated combination of yuzen dyeing and freehand painting that creates a narrative landscape of remarkable depth and symbolic richness. The composition centers around treasure ships (takara-bune) laden with auspicious objects, rendered in brilliant detail against cream-colored sails that seem to billow with supernatural winds. These vessels, traditionally associated with the Seven Lucky Gods and their New Year journey bringing fortune to worthy households, carry an array of symbolic cargo including coral branches, scrolls, and various precious objects, each meticulously painted with attention to both decorative impact and cultural meaning. The ships float above stylized pine trees and clouds, creating a dreamlike seascape that transforms the garment into a wearable prayer for the child's prosperity and good fortune.
The technical execution demonstrates the period's synthesis of traditional hand-painting techniques with the more controlled yuzen resist-dyeing process, allowing for both precise geometric elements and fluid, naturalistic details within the same composition. The artist's mastery is particularly evident in the rendering of the treasure ships' contents, where individual objects are given distinct textures and colors while maintaining overall compositional harmony. The placement of decorative elements respects the garment's structure, with major motifs positioned to create visual anchors at key points while smaller details flow organically across seams and construction lines, creating a unified artistic vision that transforms functional clothing into ceremonial art worthy of life's most significant celebrations.
Measuring 45 inches from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 44 inches in height (114 cm x 112 cm).