This listing is for an unusual vintage kimono. We think it has been "upcycled" from its previous form, with a few telltale signs to suggest it was once quite different.

The deep purple color might not have been the original color. Note those dark floral elements - why are they black against a dark background? We wonder if the original kimono was light colored - which provided the background for the beautifully stenciled florals on the fan shapes - and what now are black florals were actually a different color.

It was not unheardof for out-of-fashion kimono to be "re-styled" to be more contemporary, so perhaps that is what happened here. Or perhaps it is all original and the black florals were simply part of the desired design.

In any case, the fan shapes have an uneven edging that resembles a shibori binding. And each fan shape is filled with a stenciled, brush-colored floral motif. The edging of each element, and the spokes of the fans, is embellished with gold leaf. There is a single crest at the neck, embroidered with the tiniest of stitches.

We suggest this is from the Taisho Era (circa 1920s) based on the sleeve length, the patterning, the red lining, and the type of silk - but of course we cannot be sure. These unique features would be of interest to any textile collector.