Long-Sleeved Kimono (Furisode) with Hydrangeas and Cherry Blossoms

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A furisode is a robe with long, fluttering sleeves worn by young, unmarried women. The white satin of this furisode is dyed beige around the hem, collar-line (eri), and lower sections of the sleeves. Delicate cherry blossoms, symbols of spring, and blue hydrangeas, which usually bloom in June, are painted on the beige ground. Similar compositions appear in Meiji period kimono-pattern books, such as the Collection of Shōun’s Patterns (1901).

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