Two Kosode Fragments

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Careful examination of the textile's undecorated portions reveals scattered slightly darker areas shaped like palm leaves that were protected from fading. It is possible that the areas were once covered with adhesive and metallic leaf, which have since washed off, leaving only ghostlike shadows. Metallic leaf was often featured in kosode of the early seventeenth century, and this fragment may serve as a reminder that the sparkle of gold and silver leaf did not suddenly disappear from kosode design in the mid-seventeenth century.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art