This chirimen-silk Geisha formal hikizuri depicts a striking scene featuring a fleet of auspicious treasure ships sailing on a frothy sea. Elaborate yuzen-painting, enhanced with embroidery highlights and gold foil outlining, adorns this kimono, featuring five "mon" (family crests), indicating its high formality. Measuring 49 inches from sleeve end to sleeve-end and standing 64 inches tall (124 cm x 163 cm), it's a remarkable piece.

The motif of the "tarabune" or "ship of good fortune" traditionally symbolizes the arrival of the Seven Gods of Good Luck, carrying myriad treasures, the crane, and long-tailed tortoise on New Year's. While usually seen on fukusa (gift cloth) or children's ceremonial kimonos, this kimono stands out for its depiction of not one but twenty-four treasure ships—fifteen on the outside and nine on the inside (referencing the "back opened" and "front opened" images). One ship contains the Seven Gods of Good Luck, while the others overflow with various treasures associated with these gods.

Legend has it that the takarabune sails into port on New Year's Eve, bestowing gifts of happiness and luck to believers. The rarity of this motif on a formal geisha dance performance kimono, along with its detailed depiction, suggests it might have been crafted specifically for an important New Year's stage performance by a geisha.

This artwork is featured on pages 396-397 of Ceremonial Textiles of Japan, 18th to 20th Centuries. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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