‘Stone pavement’ silk Obi, Japan, Showa (circa 1940), cm 341x31. The ‘obi’ is a sash for traditional Japanese dresses, and a part of kimono outfits. This one is a so-called ‘nagoya obi’, a shorted than usual obi that was mostly used by young, unmarried women. Out of the ordinary, though, is the stone-pavement-like pattern decorating this smart sash. Woven on a soft terracotta silk ground, it makes the obi almost glowing when struck by light, and definitively trumpets a strong visual statement on its own. Very recommended.