V&A

Polychrome Silk Obi with Bellflower Lattice Pattern

Japanese Traditional · 1960s · Japanese

Production

artisan-craft

Material

silk brocade

Culture

Japanese

Influences

traditional Japanese bellflower symbolism

A formal Japanese obi displayed in two sections showing the front panel and tie cord. The silk features a geometric lattice pattern in cream with scattered bellflower motifs in coral pink, blue, and gold. The weaving technique creates raised figural elements against the ground fabric. The obi shows typical mid-20th century Japanese textile production with machine-woven brocade construction. The bellflower (kikyo) motifs are arranged in a regular diamond lattice, creating an all-over repeat pattern. The structured panels demonstrate the obi's function as a wide sash that wraps around the kimono at the waist, requiring precise folding and tying techniques.

belt

Connected To

Sage Green Figured Twill Silk Hanahaba Obi

V&A

2010s · 2010s

V&A

Japanese Traditional · 1960s

Sage Green Figured Twill Silk Hanahaba Obi

75%

Polychrome Silk Obi with Bellflower Lattice Pattern

Worn with·kimonoWorn with·obiageWorn with·obijimeFunction·religious-ceremonial

SHARED50 years

The sage green obi's stark geometric precision—that clean-edged triangle slicing through neutral silk—feels worlds away from the scattered bellflower confetti dancing across the brocade obi's cream ground, yet both speak the same visual language of calculated restraint.

Text82%

Image72%

V&A

Japanese Traditional · 2010s

V&A

Japanese Traditional · 1960s

Coral Pink Teal Silk Crêpe Obiage Sash

65%

Polychrome Silk Obi with Bellflower Lattice Pattern

Worn with·kimonoWorn with·obiage

SHARED50 years

These two pieces reveal the exquisite layering system of kimono dressing, where every glimpse of fabric is choreographed. The coral and teal obiage sash would peek delicately above the geometric bellflower obi, its soft crêpe texture and painterly florals offering relief from the structured brocade's precise lattice work.