Any Asian experts? Need dating help on vintage kimono

MagsRags

MagsRags

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It's black crepe, with the dogs woven in metallic thread - gold, silver and copper.

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I believe it's vintage because it's completely handsewn and the lining (upper body and sleeves) seems to be tissue weight silk and has a look of age. The dog figures are exquisite IMHO.

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With something like this, where the overall style hasn't changed much over the centuries, how do you estimate an era? And would the most accurate term for the metal threads be lurex?
 
I agree: in the '30s they used quite a bit of mettalic thread, it must have been real silver or something (perhaps like the assuits in the '20s) because it has a very different look to the lurexs of the '60s.

I don't know much about kimonos, but they seem to be routinely hand sewn, even quite modern ones so I tend to judge them on their fabrics. Is it a rayon or silk crepe? What's the lining like? I'm leaning towards '30s too but it's hard to know. I wonder if there are any good books on vintage kimonos out there?
 
Based on the look and feel, I do think it's older, but hadn't felt I could personally pin it to an era. 30s feels right when I think about it. The lining is that fragile looking tissue silk that has the look and feel of age - no crispness to it. I'm not sure whether the crepe is rayon or silk - there's nothing exposed that I can get a fabric snip from.
 
Nicole is right, even modern kimono's are hand sewn. Also, the metallic stitching is still commonly done. Its not called lurex but I don't know a proper Japanese name.

Often 20s/30s kimono's had longer sleeves and bodies. Your's certainly looks longer so it could be from that era. Do you have a picture of it flat? It's best if you can run a pole or dowel rod or something through the arms. Thats the way they are generally sold. For collectors, it's a little easier to see what's going on that way. Pictures of the lining are good to show as well. Finally, you should be sure to give the correct measurements in your listing. Length from sleeve tip to sleeve tip across, length of the sleeves, length of the body and total measurement around the body.

One final thing, this type of kimono is called a haori. Be sure to put it in your listing as they sell well since they make cute jackets/tops to go with western clothes.
 
Thanks, Connie! I'll have to reshoot flat on a pole, but that's a great idea.
 
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