Patterns
Gyoshiki Tempyo Karahana-Mon Nishiki(Warp-patterned Brocade Arm-rest Covering Floral Roundels and Diamonds)
The design of this brocade is a variation of schematic motifs of floral roundels and diamonds which were very popular with the T'ang Dynasty textiles. Its refined and superb pattern exemplifies the beauty of brocades woven in the Tempyo Era (8th century).
The floral design here is seen in the coverings of arm-rests preserved in the Shosõin Collection. Replacing the weft-patterned original in white, yellow, red, green and purple on a white ground, this piece is a warp-patterned weave. With a richer color scheme, the reproduction is successfully executed into such a brilliant and gorgeous brocade.
Kamon Ungen Nishiki(Ungen Brocade of Flowers Design)
Among some of the brocades called“Ungen”, meaning stripes shaded in various colors, the original from which the design with floral motives is adapted is the one used for the hem cloth of a rug which is registered as“ a white twill with design of a flowering tree and paired sheep and paired phoenixes”. Although this original cloth is a weft-patterned brocade, our adaptation is woven as a warppatterned textile.
The four-petalled floral motives of green are arranged on the vertical stripes in purple and red, and the six-petalled floral motives of purple and red on those in white. The diapers made up of tiny dots are strewn all over the design.
This is a very delicate brocade which preserves the genuine fee ling of Shosoin repository in the 8th century Japan.
Shati-no-tora(Brocade with Design of Tiger on Shati)
A great variety of plants and animals are living in India. Abov e all, the Royal Bengal tiger is designated as the "National Animal of India" and the tiger population in India is proudly the world's largest.
The design of this brocade is originated in an animal pattern o f the ethnic garment of Indian sari, or shati in Hindustani word, made in Varanasi, Northern India where has been the center of the textile production.
We attempted to transfer the excellent ancient Indian fabric in to our warp-patterned brocade using our weaving technique enough to feel a breath of the animals.
Shishikari-mon Nishiki(Brocade with Design of Lion Hunter)
This is a modified design from a brocade of the "Beaded Medallions Enclosing Four Mounted Lion Hunters", designated as the National Treasure, preserved in Horyu-ji temple in Nara, Japan since the 7th century. The original design consists of two pairs of kings mounting on horsebacks and shooting lions which are symmetrically placed on each side of a flowering tree in a pearl roundel that is the characteristic of Sassanian Dynasty of Persia.
We have attempted to transfer the ambitious theme of the ancient brocade to a warp-patterned brocade in a new design eliminating the flowering tree, and depicting only one hunter and a lion, but adding gorgeous blossom design surrounding the roundels.