Uchikake — silk and gold-thread wedding coat
Vermilion Bride
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
The uchikake is the coat a Japanese bride wears over her kimono. It does not close, it takes no belt: it is let fall open, and it trails.
This one is vermilion. Court fans — hiōgi, made of thin cypress blades — open across the silk, and large baskets of flowers are painted by hand among them: peonies, chrysanthemums, irises, cherry blossom. Gold runs between them in bands of cloud that separate the scenes as on a folding screen.
The hem is fuki: a red padded roll running all the way round, made so the cloth gathers evenly on the floor as you walk. That detail is what tells a true uchikake from a long kimono.
Worn open over a plain dress it becomes a ceremonial coat. It is the most spectacular piece in the collection, and it is not discreet.
Details
- Measurements
- Being verified
- Material
- Silk, gold thread. Padded hem (fuki) lined in red.
- Technique
- Hand-painted motif, gold brocade, crest at the back
- Condition
- No visible stain across the 11 photos. Embroidery intact, colours vivid, gold not tarnished.
- Worn
- Open, without an obi. Trails on the floor.
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. The padded hem must never be forced into a fold. Hang on a wide hanger, away from light.