How to tell the difference between an Edo era formal kimono, Meiji era formal kimono, and a newer formal kimono.
The most obvious thing one will see in Meiji and Edo era kimono is that they are smaller than newer pieces. . Around
the turn of the century (later meiji), kimono were made wider and longer to accommodate the increasing average size
of the Japanese people, hence newer kimono are larger in size.
The most obvious thing one will see in Meiji and Edo era kimono is that they are smaller than newer pieces. . Around
the turn of the century (later meiji), kimono were made wider and longer to accommodate the increasing average size
of the Japanese people, hence newer kimono are larger in size.
| How to tell what you are looking at - Edo Formal |
Please also note that the sleeve length on an edo pieces is generally longer than the others. You will see some
tomesode with longer sleeves and they are desirable to collectors as the owner was a special person.
tomesode with longer sleeves and they are desirable to collectors as the owner was a special person.
Top kimono: Modern tomesode from around the 50s
Middle kimono: Meiji era tomesode
Bottom kimono: Edo era tomesode
Middle kimono: Meiji era tomesode
Bottom kimono: Edo era tomesode
The dead giveaway for an Edo era piece is that the crests are larger than the meiji pieces. There are some meiji
pieces with the larger crests, but they are less common to see.
pieces with the larger crests, but they are less common to see.
Please click on all of these images for more detailed images
Another dead giveaway for an edo era formal piece is that the hem is lightly padded. Note the slight pad on the
bottom kimono. Both pieces are slip stitched so there is more thickness at them hem as there is a seam present, but
you will find a small amount of padding in the Edo formal pieces. It is not found on regular kimono of that era.
bottom kimono. Both pieces are slip stitched so there is more thickness at them hem as there is a seam present, but
you will find a small amount of padding in the Edo formal pieces. It is not found on regular kimono of that era.
Color can also aid in determining age. Meiji and Edo kimono used all natural dyes. The colors have faded with time
unless a pieces has been taken care of exceptionally well. Chemical dyes can and will be much brighter in general.
The feel of the silk in an Edo or Meiji kimono will be very different compared to a newer kimono but this is tough to
describe in pictures and words. We can surmise that things were done differently then. Taisho era Industrialization
led to farmed silk and machine spun silk. Before that, there was growing a grove of mulberry trees and waiting for
nature to do its thing. Before mechanization there was hand spinning. These factors contribute to a very different
feel and a different quality of silk. Consider the difference in taste between wild caught Salmon and farm raised
Salmon.
unless a pieces has been taken care of exceptionally well. Chemical dyes can and will be much brighter in general.
The feel of the silk in an Edo or Meiji kimono will be very different compared to a newer kimono but this is tough to
describe in pictures and words. We can surmise that things were done differently then. Taisho era Industrialization
led to farmed silk and machine spun silk. Before that, there was growing a grove of mulberry trees and waiting for
nature to do its thing. Before mechanization there was hand spinning. These factors contribute to a very different
feel and a different quality of silk. Consider the difference in taste between wild caught Salmon and farm raised
Salmon.
Top kimono: Taisho era iro tomesode
Bottom kimono: Edo era tomesode
Bottom kimono: Edo era tomesode