Ceremonial infant robe (miyamairi), silk
First Flight
Only one in stock
Each kimono is bought one at a time in Japan; we will not have another. These are authentic Japanese kimono, worn and kept before they came this far. The marks of time — the patina, the light wear — are part of the piece.
Description
A garment for a very first journey: the one a Japanese baby wears for their presentation at the shrine, weeks after birth. It is never worn alone — it is laid over the shoulders of whoever is holding the child.
The ground shades from pale water-blue to white, then to a deep blue toward the hem, in a blown gradient. A hawk with open wings crosses the back, close to a pine. Three family crests mark the centre back and both shoulders.
The hawk is not chosen at random. In Japanese ceremonial dress it carries a specific wish: a sharp eye, a sure grip — the hope that a child will grow up knowing how to seize a chance when it passes.
The silk carries the marks of real use: a few yellowed spots on the lining and collar, invisible once folded for presentation. This is a family piece, not something new.
Details
- Length
- 98 cm / 38.6"
- Yuki (back to cuff)
- 43.5 cm / 17.1" — cuff-to-cuff span 87 cm / 34.3"
- Sleeve
- 55 cm / 21.7" long, 28 cm / 11.0" wide
- Front width (both sides)
- 62 cm / 24.4"
- Back width
- 31 cm / 12.2"
- Width at hem
- To be measured
- Suggested age
- Around 5, to be confirmed
- Material
- Silk, sayagata lattice pattern woven into the ground
- Crest
- Three family crests (mitsu-mon)
- Condition
- Yellowing on the sleeves and shoulders (outer face), more extensive on the lining; a band mark behind the collar; small marks on the inner fold. No tears.
Shipping
Sent from France, carefully folded and wrapped in Japanese paper. Times and rates are set out in the terms of sale. Returns accepted within fourteen days, except for pieces altered to measure.
Care
Dry clean only, with a specialist in antique textiles. Hang in the shade, on a narrow hanger suited to the small size of the piece.