Lady Yodo's Kosode (1590s)

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

Lady Yodo's Kosode

The words "Made to Order for the lady of Fushimi" can be found written in ink inside the upper left seam of the original kosode fragment, which is what leads us to believe that it is part of a kosode belonging to Lady Yodo. It is known that she inhabited Fushimi Castle for six years between 1594 and 1599, and probably was around the age of 30 at the time.

The features that draw the eye afresh when viewing the restored kimono are the strong contrasts in the color scheme and the dynamic design of the large, serpentine willow pattern with the spaces between filled in with diagonal lines of ink. The Momoyama period, with Hideyoshi at its center, was an opulent era both culturally and economically, and it appears that this taste in design was perfectly normal for the times.
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[Kitadatetenno]

To me, that garment looks like an ideal representation of the changing decorative style of the time. The dyeing technique is obviously tsujigahana, but the design looks typical for much later than the 1590's. Great find.