Notes from an Appraiser: Playful skeleton imagery marks unique period in Japanese garment design
- Cynthia Shaver
- Jul 2
- 1 min read
The last two months I have been obsessed with Japanese skeleton kimonos. I was approached by a collector to appraise his 47-piece textile collection, all detailed in the scholarly essay “As We Are Now So Shall You One Day Be” by Jacqueline Atkins. Each of the kimonos has at least two photos, if not more, with commentary by Atkins discussing the motif or a link to an artist known for similar images. These kimonos are very rare and appeared on the Japanese market from 1920 to 1930, the Taishō period to the start of the Shōwa period. It was a time of world peace and exchange of ideas, architecture and modes of travel.
Read the complete story in our e-edition, or SUBSCRIBE NOW for home delivery and access to the digital replica.
Comment on this article on Nextdoor.