Collection
Surihaku Inner Garment
| Surihaku Inner Garment |
| Take (length) 144.0 cm, yuki-take (from neck center to sleeve end) 70.5 cm; Edo period, 19th century; Gift of the Ii Family |
A surihaku is a woman’s inner garment. The light blue silk satin is fabric from Qing-dynasty China. Sprays of auspicious pine, bamboo, plum and pomegranate cover the upper part, and the character 寿 (kotobuki; longevity) is rendered in various styles of script over the fabric ground. Created by the surihaku technique (silver foil impressed over a design drawn in paste) are spears of plum on the upper part of the garment, and, on the lower part, interlocking circular patterns (shippō) enclosing hanabishi “flower diamonds.”
