19c Museum Antique Japanese AINU Elm Bark Kimono - RARE Start Price USD 7,800.00 Current Price USD 7,800.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 8,000.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, November 26, 2008 End Time Saturday, December 06, 2008 Location Yamagata See more about '19c Museum Antique Japanese AINU Elm Bark Kimono - RARE' Description Description: This is an extremely rare and beautiful museum quality mid to late Meiji Period AINU Kimono robe from Northern Japan. Called an ATTUSI by the AINU people, this robe is made from OHYOU or elm bark fiber woven together with two indigo cotton threads giving it an appealing verticle stripe design. It has indigo cotton cloth applique with light indigo and white cotton thread embroidery in a very striking ornamental design. Motif patterns were passed from mother to daughter and were placed at the opening, neck, cuffs and hem to protect the bodies most vulnerable areas from evil spirits, which follow straight lines, not crooked, so all of the embroidery has this wonderful curved pattern. This breathtaking AINU robe took months to make by hand and is the rarest of the (Japanese) textiles. Most of these are already in museum collections. A once in a lifetime chance for the serious collector! Age: late EDO / early MEIJI Periods (Edo 1603-1868, Meiji 1868-1912). Condition: Very good overall for its age, small expertly patched areas, some light staining (see pics). Size: Approximately: 121cm(48") sleeve tip to sleeve tip x 114cm (45")in length. (Price has just been significantly reduced on this rare piece for this first time)*All pictures and text cannot be reproduced without permission* *All pictures and text cannot be reproduced without permission* Place a Bid!