Buddhist Vestment (Kesa)
early 1900s
Maker Unknown
Textiles
Buddhist Vestment (Kesa), early 1900s. Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912). Silk with supplementary weft, brocaded; metal thread; overall: 119.4 x 205.7 cm (47 x 81 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1916.1340 Kesa are Buddhist monastic robes that originated in India. The robes are named after the brown or saffron dye originally used in their production. The primary motif on this seven-paneled kesa is a long-tailed bird with a flower in its mouth. This motif was imported from Persia (present-day Iran) through China during the Nara period (710–794)and is interpreted as a positive symbol. The bird delivers happiness in its mouth. This kesa depicts bird cages, but all the birds portrayed fly free.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Garment
- Formatted Medium
- silk with supplementary weft, brocaded; metal thread
- Dimensions
- Overall: 119.4 x 205.7 cm (47 x 81 in.)
- Departments
- Textiles
- Accession Number
- 1916.1340
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade
- Exhibitions
- Arts of Japan from the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Lure of Painted Poetry: Cross-cultural Text and Image in Korean and Japanese Art, Rinpa (琳派) (Japanese gallery rotation) 235, Japanese Religious Art (Japanese art rotation), Cleveland Museum of Art, (3/2/ 2011 - 8/21/2011); "The Lure of Painted Poetry: Cross-cultural Text and Image in Korean and Japanese Art" cat. 71
- Rights Statement
- CC0
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