Masahi

I've been trying to make a picture catalogue of my kimono collection for insurance and organization needs, and I thought I might put it up here for everyone's amusement (and in case my other copies of it get lost).

This is a mid to late Meiji period uchikake, or an over-robe from 1880s-1900s. Uchikake, while used only as wedding kimono now, were originally over-robes that noblewomen or highly affluent women used in formal situations. They served this function through the Meiji period and for some of the Taisho period, which is why some of these robes have short-sleeves (as opposed to the modern wedding uchikake which always has long sleeves).

Short-sleeved uchikake from the Meiji and Taisho periods always have such an elegance to them, and I have admired this style for a long time. I'm glad I was able to get my hands on this one, it has all of the grace that I attribute to the kimono of the Meiji period. The design on this one is the classic chou-shiku-bai, or pine-bamboo-plum blossom (the three friends of winter).

For a name, I decided upon Masahi, combining the kanji for elegant and princess/queen.

EDIT- I exchanged the auction photo for more detailed ones that I took myself.