Unknown Maker, Japanese

This graphically high-contrast design of a flowering plum tree blooming behind a twig fence and bundles of twigs is the result of employing the shibori technique. Shibori is a resist-dyeing technique in which the fabric is tied, stitched, or bound to prevent dye from penetrating parts of the fabric design.

As with the Bugaku costume, the artist here has combined shibori (tie­dyeing) with embroidery to produce an elaborate and varied surface decoration. The large scale couching in gold is used effectively to create the fence. The pattern design seems freer than in many of the more repetitious Chinese robes.