This listing is for a vintage Japanese nagoya style obi from the Fuller Collection. See below for details on this exceptional group of Japanese textiles.

Nagoya obi have a specialized shape - folded and sewn to a 6-7" width for the portion that wraps around the waist but left wide (13-14") for about one yard at the end which would be tied into an elaborate bow.

This obi is black with a design of dozens of dancers and musicians performing in a line for a small number of observers. Look closely to admire the elaborate weaving - there are no faces on the performers, yet the images seem to have life nonetheless.

Behind the performers, a silver sheen was added to the weaving to create a cloud-like background that shimmers and separates the scene from the rest of the obi.

Note that the larger scene appears on the wider "bow-end" of the obi but - as is typical of nagoya obi - at the center belt portion there is another iteration of the design. In this case, several sets of dancers were woven on both sides of the belt focal point.

Excellent condition, silk.

See videos below on the different styles of obi as well as ideas for displaying them.

The Fuller Collection – originally over 2000 kimono – was the passion and pride of Richard Fuller of Chicago, IL and Wabasha, MN. Richard served as a US Marine in post-war Japan, and there began his love of and appreciation for vintage Japanese kimono – especially wedding kimono. Richard saw that the mastery and artisanship of traditional Japanese textile techniques was waning – threatening to die out altogether – which sparked his mission to promote this industry and preserve what he could. Click here to read one of his interviews.

Together with his wife Janith, Richard invested in thousands of kimono and obi, opening Wind Whisper West, a kimono gallery in Wabasha, MN in 2003. Most of the collection was sold there, but several hundred pieces remain. Richard passed in 2020, and Janith has consigned the remainder of the collection to Kyoto Kimono to offer through our website. We are honored and proud to be stewarding the Fuller Collection as each piece finds its new home and continues to bring wonder and beauty to admirers around the world.