‘Art Nouveau’ silk urushi Obi, Japan, Showa (circa 1940), cm 353x31. The ‘obi’ is a sash for traditional Japanese dresses, and a part of kimono outfits. This one is a so-called ‘nagoya obi’, an asymmetrical shaped, shorted than usual obi that was mostly used by young, unmarried women. Out of the ordinary, though, is the ‘floral’ pattern and its colours decorating this smart sash. Woven on a rich moss green silk ground, the vivid red floral pattern (much resembling those of French Art Nouveau or, better, those of Viennese Jugendstil), with its ‘urushi’ outlines makes the obi almost glowing, and definitively trumpets a strong visual statement on its own. Very recommended……. (ps - for those interested in details: ‘urushi’ is a local plant commonly known as the ‘varnish tree’ as its milk-like emulsion generates a varnish resin used in the lacquer process in Japan for many centuries. In our case the black threads were tinted with such varnish to provide extra boldness)