This listing is for a vintage Japanese uchikake wedding kimono from The Fuller Collection. See below for details on the provenance of this beautiful garment.
The color and patterning of this uchikake are striking. Sloping red pine bought arch across from the right side, against a background of clouds filled with small deep orange squares that seem to depict the goldleaf squares of a shoji paper door. But the highlight of the design must be the elaborate gold couching. Each of the crane images was embroidered with gold-wrapped silk threads, couched with red silk. Look closely at the photos to see how intricate the design, and how patient and skilled the embroiderer must have been.
As with many white-based uchikake, there is a small blemish at the center back - see last photo. But we don't feel this detracts at all from the gorgeous display this uchikake makes. The size falls within the typical uchikake measurements of 65-67" long, 52-52" across the sleeves and shoulders, and 48-54" around the middle. We offer sturdy wooden rods for hanging these dazzling displays - see options above.
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.
