Deep blue silk fukuro obi with embroidered Peony and Bird motifs on tree, teal, and white
Deep blue silk fukuro obi with embroidered Peony and Bird motifs on tree, teal, and white
This is an antique obi in excellent condition. The soft deep blue silk on the background has a subtle pattern that catches the light, and the color is a deep indigo with a whisper of purple. Th embroidered Peony motifs have blossoms on white, spring green, and a light blue with a subtle hint of bronze. The Peony leaves are executed with a technique that allows the deep blue silk of the background material to form the body of a leaf, with the edges of the leaf embroidered in the light blue and spring greens. The design is Rokutsugara , repeating the pattern 6 times. There is an unpatterned space in the middle of the obi, and it has a kaikirisen also for wearing in a taiko musubi.
Size: Width：11.2inch(28.5cm), Length：147.6inch(375cm)
Condition: This is an antique obi in excellent strong condition. A soft obi, and would be easy to wear, or make an excellent accessory. One of the cream Flowers has a slight discoloration, and this is included in the pictures.
Botan and Kimono
Name: Botan (牡丹) Peony
Seasonal Association: Spring or Summer
When To Wear It: October-April
Auspicious: yes
History
Peonies were originally introduced to Japan from China during the Nara period, however it didn’t enter the poetic canon of flowers until the Edo period. Botan are also known as the king of flowers, and they are considered an appropriate floral offering for the Buddha. Classically, botan is associated with summer (especially early summer) as that is when the flowers bloom naturally. However, during the Edo period, cultivators created different breeds of peonies that bloom in winter, spring, and autumn as well.
Identification
Botan can often be confused with the tsubaki. Botan blossoms are much larger and fuller than tsubaki blossoms, and they usually have more petals than tsubaki. These petals are often depicted in multiple layers and they have ragged edges while tsubaki petals are usually depicted as smooth and in a single layer. Finally, botan leaves are depicted with three distinct lobes while tsubaki leaves do not have lobes.
While these are general rules to distinguish between botan and tsubaki, highly stylized versions or unusual artistic interpretations can muddle this distinction.