Textile ArtsJapanese19th century

Buddhist Priest's Stole (Ohi) with Floral Decor over an Alternating Color Block Ground with Fence Pattern

19th century

Description

A Buddhist priest's stole worn draped over the forearm in concert with a kesa (robe), this columnar garment known as an ōhi is made up of mulitple pieces of the same cloth that together form a patchwork of squares and rectangles framed within a border. Silk threads resist-dyed in alternating colors of green and dark orange were woven into a fabric that created color blocks. Supplementary wefts of gold were interwoven into the main fabric to create a fence pattern. Multicolored silk threads were utlized to embroider images of flowers and leaves over the color-block and fence patterns.

Classification

Textile Arts

Medium

Multicolored Ikat-dyed silk with supplementary gold wefts; floral motifs embroidered with polychrome silk threads

Culture

Japanese

Period

Edo period, 1615-1868

Century

19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

max. H. 156.2 x W. 31.5 cm (61 1/2 x 12 3/8 in.)

Provenance

Louis V. Ledoux Collection, New York (by 1948), by descent; to his son L. Pierre Ledoux, New York (1948-2001), by inheritance; to his widow Joan F. Ledoux, New York, (2001-2013), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2013. Footnotes: 1. Louis V. Ledoux (1880-1948) 2. L. Pierre Ledoux (1912-2001) 3. On long term loan to Harvard Art Museums from 1985 to 2013.