

Vintage Childs Vest
Vintage Japanese Childs Vest with Kokeshi Doll Motif | Hand Made “Shichi-Go-San” Garment
Age:1930-1950
Descriptive qualities& condition:
Dimensions: 21-0” L (fully opened) x 11-0” shoulder to shoulder
This is a wonderful padded garment that embodies the Japanese indispensable concept of “mottainai”, and when one can prolong the textiles useful life through recycling and reuse. This sewing tradition was passed down from mother to daughter, from each generation to the next, and was part of the basic homemaking repertoire of the Japanese household. This child’s collared vest is part of a group of clothing called a “Shichi-Go-San”, (literally “seven-five-three”) which is a custom observed November 15 in which seven-year old girls visit shrines to pray for health and prosperity as they grow.
This Meisen silk kimono, (Meisen silk was a popular fabric for casual kimono from 1920 to 1950, due to it being affordable and in part because the designs, frequently drawing on Japanese tradition). The garment features beautiful detailed and diverse Kokeshi Dolls, as well as the incorporation of the Shibori dotted motif beautiful merged with negative areas and the incorporation of the Kokeshi on the surface. The piece is padded to be worn in cold temperatures and lined in white silk with the addition of handmade three-dimensional flowers and tassels to further decorate the piece. In today's world, Vintage Japanese Silk Child's vests makes a wonderful decorative piece for display.
Vintage Condition: The garment is in Very Good, “as is” condition and as originally made. Having considerable age, the garment is completely sound, wearable, unfaded with minimal soiling, (only on the front of the “bib” from what we think was pressing the garment) with the Shibori fully intact.