Bidspirit auction | RARE EDO MEIJI KIMONO HINAGATA

RARE EDO MEIJI KIMONO HINAGATA WOODBLOCKS COMPLETE SET - A rare set of five original Japanese woodblock prints from a hinagata-bon—kimono design pattern sheets used by Kyoto textile workshops as guides for garment decoration. Unlike decorative ukiyo-e, these Edo-period prints were produced specifically for kimono makers. Each sheet shows a kimono silhouette filled with refined motifs—tigers in reeds, pine and horse, blossoms with court hat, floral rock-garden fields, and willow with fans—printed in a restrained palette of indigo, beni red, greys and earth tones typical of elite garment design. The compositions reflect the Rinpa decorative aesthetic associated with Ogata Kōrin and Sakai Hōitsu, visible in the bold negative space and flowing seasonal forms. Printed on traditional washi paper with registration and working margins, these were practical design masters for yuzen and kosode artisans, not wall prints. Comparable examples are held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The British Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Dating to the Late Edo period, c.1830–1860, Kyoto, with natural pigments and no chemical dyes. Provenance: purchased from renowned Japanese antique store, operating in London in the 1980's. THIS LOT QUALIFIES FOR A 30-DAY UNCONDITIONAL RETURN FROM THE DATE OF SALE. BUYERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURN SHIPPING. Dimensions Length 6in, Height 10in, Width 1in the original woodblock paper with drawing is 15 cm by 25 cm Condition Printed on washi paper with 19th-century toning. Museum-held kimono design woodblocks rarely appear as complete sets. Tape remnants to margins; minor creases, edge wear, stains. No image tears; colours strong; margins intact.