Child’s Kimono: Early 20th century, Cotton with indigo dye and omi jofu kasuri ikat weave. On Loan from the Fowler Museum at UCLA, Krauss Collection of Japanese Textiles
Japan in Blue and White explores the dynamic pairing of blue and white in Japan’s ceramics, textiles and prints over the last 400 years.
The exhibition presents several loaned objects from local institutions and collectors such as the Fowler Museum at UCLA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and private collections.
At featured object is the child’s kimono seen here, which was made near Kyoto in the early 20th century. It was decorated using the double ikat, or kasuri, technique in which both warp and weft threads were dyed before weaving, and has auspicious designs of cranes and pine trees, both signs of long life.
Since such kasuri textiles were very labor-intensive and therefore relatively expensive for cotton textiles, this kimono was probably made for a special occasion.
The exhibition is on view through March 6, 2011 with several rotations of textiles and prints.
Frank and Toshie Mosher Gallery of Japanese Art
Japan in Blue and White is guest-curated by Meher McArthur and was made possible by Setsuko Oka in honor of Grace Oka Latham.
Pacific Asia Museum is located at 46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101, (626) 449-2742. www.pacificasiamuseum.org
