Robe

Textiles

19th century

Ainu
Japan, Hokkaido Island

Ainu robes are often admired for their intricate geometric patterns and fine craftsmanship. This checked cotton kimono features strips of indigo-dyed cotton that have been appliquéd in a maze-like pattern. The patterns are believed to protect the wearer from evil spirits and therefore are placed at the most vulnerable spots or openings in the robe at the neck, arms, and hem.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Textiles

Artist: Ainu
Title: Robe
Place: Japan (Object made in:)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: Made 1800–1899
Medium: Cotton
Dimensions: 129.5 × 134.6 cm (51 × 53 in.)
Credit Line: Florence Ayscough and Harley Farnsworth MacNair Collection
Reference Number: 1943.32
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/46135/manifest.json

Art Institute of Chicago, Chinese, Japanese and Korean Art, Gallery 108, rotation, Nov. 9, 2017-Jan. 8, 2018.
Art Institute of Chicago, Arts of the Asia rotation, Gallery 108, Jun. 13-Sep. 13, 2023.

Florence Ayscough MacNair (born Weelock; died April 26, 1942) and Harley Farnsworth MacNair (died 1947), Shanghai, China, then Chicago; by descent to Harley Farnsworth MacNair, Chicago, from 1942 [incoming receipt R7861, Jan. 8, 1943; copy in curatorial object file]; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, Jan. 8, 1943.

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.