Men’s black silk haori, painted lining
The Hidden Dragon
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
From the outside it is a black garment. Nothing. A matte silk, without pattern, carrying only small round crests — the family mon.
Then you open it.
Inside, a dragon. Painted in ink on silver-grey silk, it crosses the whole lining among waves and clouds, scales and claws drawn one by one.
This is not a tailor’s flourish: it is a rule. Japanese men’s dress is austere outside and free inside. Under the Tokugawa, merchants were forbidden to display wealth — so luxury moved to the other side of the cloth. What you owned, you wore against yourself, and opened for whom you chose.
Worn open over dark clothes, the lining shows with every movement.
Details
- Measurements
- Being verified
- Material
- Silk. Lining (haura) in hand-painted silk.
- Motif
- Dragon among waves and clouds, in ink
- Crest
- Round family crest, to be identified
- Colour
- True black (shikkoku, lacquer-black) — against the black photo backdrop the contrast is low and it can read as navy. That is not the real colour.
- Condition
- No visible stain across the photos. A small red mark near the dragon's eye (last photo) — to be confirmed as part of the painting or not.
- Worn
- Open, as a short jacket
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. The lining is painted: never rub, never spot-clean with water. Store flat or on a hanger, away from light.