Katabira with Goshodoki pattern

Katabira is an unlined garment worn in summer. This katabira was executed some techniques such as Surihitta-dye (stencil imitation tie-dying) and embroidery to depict patterns of flowers, a cottage, and a rooster family, which can be seen on the lower part of the kimono. These motifs seem to allude to specific classical literature associated with court culture. This type of design is called ‘goshodoki’, which was especially worn by women of high-class samurai family. This particular kimono was owned by Princess Sumi, a wife of the 12th lord of the Tachibana family.