Description
This is a Japanese wedding kimono thought be from the 19th or 20th century, when i enharited this from my mother i was told it was worth at least nine thousand dollars but that has not been verified. there are no visible signatures or marks and it is in good condition besides the fact that it may need a cleaning. any help is greatly appreciated
Unless it can be verified
Unless it can be verified that this has a provenance to a famous person or event a value over $1000.00 is highly unlikely. Comparable examples sell at auction on a regular basis for under $500.00. Here's alink for you:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=%2Bwedding+%2BkimonoThe bird pictured on the
The bird pictured on the wedding Kimono is that of the Japanese Phoenix or HO-O Bird. It is said that during good times, the Phoenix descends from the clouds and rests on the Pauwlonia bush which it looks like it is doing in this scene, and this is the only bush that the Phoenix will rest on when it descends from the heavens. When it dissapears again, then things aren't so good as indicated by Japanese mythology. In both Japanese and Chinese mythology, the HO-O (Japanese) of Feng-Huang (Chinese) bird is symbolic of the empress and the Dragon is that of the Emperor. Some wedding kimonos have both of them pictured to symbolise the union of the two great deities and the strength of union The HO-O bird also symbolises chastity, purity etc so that is where it fits in to the wedding side of things for the bride to be.
I hope this helps
Dean (matcat010)
Avid Antiques collector
Re: japanese wedding kimono
As I understand it, an authentic kimono runs between $1,000.00 and 3,000.00 for a manufactured one. However, if the kimono is hand-sewn and authentic, rather than a manufactured one, it can be worth between 35,000.00 and 50,000.00. Most brides can not afford to own one, so generally, they rent one for 3,000.00 to 5,000.00 per day for their weddings. Look at the stitching, hand-sewn will show the puckers and uneveness of hand stitching vs. manufactured or machine stitched.
Owner of an exquisitely embroidered hand stitched wedding kimono.
cgates55