Maiko hikizuri featuring pine and crane motif.

I seriously only won this in the weee hours of this morning, but I'm so excited!!!

A seller on Yahoo! Japan had 6(!) maiko hiki up for auction and i was lucky enough to snagg this one.

There was another black one with lovely book patterns but it was a bit damaged so i left it.

Length: 195.5cm

Wrist-wrist: 130cm

Sode: 86cm

 

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Update:

Ok I suppose some part of me knew it wasn't early Showa, but I just wanted to believe that because of its bad condition and the pine motif is a bit unusual.

But while I was flicking through the 1983 Miyako odori I noticed a familiar pattern around the collar on a maiko and thought "hmmm..." The maiko is Mameryō/豆 竜. She is also in the 1982 miyako: www.flickr.com/photos/29015725@N08/4976649266/in/set-7215...

but I guess I over looked that small portrait or my eyes hadn't been sharpened to spot hiki at that stage ;)

I also have a beautiful black and white photo book that I will scan for you later that has a full body shot of a maiko wearing this hikizuri!!!!!!

If it is Mameryō or not I don't know.

www.flickr.com/photos/29015725@N08/6879871188/

 

So what an interesting history this hikizuri has!

So it started life in an okiya of Gion Kobu, went to a maiko henshin studio in Kamishichiken and came to live with me in Australia!

 

Here: kofuji.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/piecing-together-maiko-hik...

is my blog entry about tracing the history of this beautiful hikizuri, any help is appreciated!

Done