UROBORO

UROBORO (also spelled OUROBOROS,etc…) represents a serpent or a dragon biting its own tail and forming a circle. It appeared in almost all ancient cultures and had been important in religious and mythological symbolism, but has also been frequently used in alchemical illustrations, and was used to symbolise concepts such as completion, totality and perfection. It can be also seen as a circular never ending process where end meets start. This cyclic motion is typically encountered when collecting antiques. It is a coming and going of objects from the past, situations re-presented, vibrations of déjà vu. Every time such objects changes proprietary, the cycle starts again.

  • furoshiki cloth, Japan, early Showa (circa 1930), cm 95x96. The focus in this gift wrapping cloth is on the two ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • silk temple cloth, Japan, Meiji (circa 1900), cm 112x98. This is an ‘uchishiki’, a squarish cloth of rich silk used to cover ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • furoshiki cloth, Japan, late Meiji (circa 1910), cm 101x102. Furoshiki were (and still are to some extent) wrapping cloths used ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • furoshiki cloth, Japan, late Meiji (circa 1910), cm 100x107. Furoshiki were (and still are to some extent) wrapping cloths used ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • a set of thirteen oshie dolls, Japan, Meiji (circa 1880), cm 25x18. The doll making has been taken to an art form ... read more
    price:  please enquire

  • a set of thirteen oshie dolls (Details), Japan, Meiji (circa 1880). a few more images on subject. Please contact for additional info.
    price:  please enquire

  • silk temple cloth, Japan, Edo (dated 1817), cm 157x32. This is a silk tapestry used in a Buddhist temple. More precisely, it ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • furoshiki cloth, Kaga district, Japan, Meiji (circa 1900), cm 93x86. Furoshiki were (and still are to some extent) wrapping cloths used ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • ohenro coat, Japan, Showa (circa 1940), cm 75x132 Rural Japan always had a strong bias towards religious sects. One of the many, ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • silk uchishiki, Japan, Taisho (1912-1926), cm 198x33. This is an ‘uchishiki’ – or, better, a ‘mizuhiki’ - a rectangular cloth of ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • fireman hanten, Japan, Showa (circa 1940), cm 75x134. In old Japan, where wood architecture was predominant, fires occurred frequently. The capital city ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • tairyo bata, Japan, Showa (c.1950), cm 125x180. a flag used on used on fishermen boats. Unlike other examples vividly decorated in a ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • shibori yukata, Japan, Showa (circa 1950), cm 151x130. a lightweight male summer kimono, made of hand spun, hand woven cotton, nicely thick ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • nobori bata cloth, Japan, Showa (c.1950), cm 724x72. a textile banner used for celebrating Boys' Festival, a Japanese festivity occurring early May ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • nobori bata cloth, Japan, Showa (c.1950), cm 726x72. a textile banner used for celebrating Boys' Festival, a Japanese festivity occurring early May ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • dounuki kimono, Japan, early Meiji (circa 1880), cm 141x123 This is a ‘donouki’, that is the inner kimono of the formal kimono ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • happi coat, Japan, early Showa (circa 1930), cm 81x128. Happi are those traditional Japanese work coats often wearing name of enterprise or ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • temple banner, Japan, Taisho (dated 1915), cm 740x63. This is a long banner that was offered to a Shinto shrine. On an ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • nobori bata cloth, Japan, Taisho (c.1920), cm 103x121. a cotton flag of those displayed in the early 20th century by shops and ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • happi coat, Japan, Showa (circa 1940), cm 86x124. Happi are those traditional Japanese work coats often wearing name of enterprise or related ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • furoshiki cloth, Japan, Taisho (circa 1920), cm 116x97. Furoshiki were (and still are to some extent) wrapping cloths used when carrying ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • nobori bata cloth, Japan, Meiji (c.1880), cm 350x32. a textile banner used for celebrating Boys' Festival, a Japanese festivity occurring early May ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • nobori bata cloth, Japan, Meiji (c.1880), cm 265x36. a textile banner used for celebrating Boys' Festival, a Japanese festivity occurring early May ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • furoshiki cloth, Japan, Meiji (circa 1900), cm 113x96 Furoshiki were (and still are to some extent) wrapping cloths used when carrying small ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • set of tsutsugaki textile fragments, Japan, Meiji (circa 1880), cm 50x35 each. Three fragments from what should have been a truly ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • futonji, Japan, Meiji (circa 1900), cm 141x133. Bedding cover, whose rich, dark green colour was achieved by over-dyeing indigo with a yellow ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • yukata, Japan, Taisho (circa 1920), cm 147x120. Yukata are Japanese summer garments, usually made of cotton or hemp as lightweight as possible ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • silk futon cover, Japan, Meiji (circa 1900), cm 182x152. This is a celebratory textile created to form part of a bride's wedding ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • furoshiki cloth, Japan, Meiji (circa 1890), cm 98x97. Furoshiki were (and still are to some extent) wrapping cloths used when carrying ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • furoshiki cloth, Japan, Taisho (circa 1920), cm 103x96 Furoshiki were (and still are to some extent) wrapping cloths used when carrying ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • noragi kasuri and shibori coat, Japan, Taisho (circa 1920), cm 122x121. a lovely farmer’s coat, made of hand spun, hand woven cotton, ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • futonji, Japan, Late Meiji (circa 1900), cm 152x98. Small bedding cover, whose rich, dark green colour was achieved by over-dyeing indigo with ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • happi coat, Japan, Showa (circa 1940), cm 86x124. Happi are those traditional Japanese work coats often wearing name of enterprise or related ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • happi coat, Japan, early Showa (circa 1930), cm 88x124. Happi are those traditional Japanese work coats often wearing name of enterprise or ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • blanket (recto), Central Asia, late 19th century, cm 204x141. An intriguing item, showing two aspects of the block printing technique. The ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • blanket (verso), Central Asian , late 19th century, cm 204x141. See the ‘recto’ posting for a full caption.
    price:  SOLD

  • horse trapping, Japan, Meiji (c. 1880), cm 43x61. This small and wonderful boro horse trapping (uma gake) is made from Meiji Era ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • raffia textile #8, kuba people, dr Congo, circa 1940, cm 64x44. a genuinely vintage piece of so-called Kuba-velvets showing nice age patina, ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • raffia textile #4, k u b a people, dr Congo, circa 1940, cm 57x56. a genuinely vintage piece of so-called k u ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • nobori bata cloth, Japan, Meiji (c.1880), cm 284x33. a textile banner used for celebrating Boys' Festival, a Japanese festivity occurring every year ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • k u b a skirt textile panel #2, dr Congo, mid 20th century, cm 67x76. Single panel of a long cloth that ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • katazome textile panel #4, Japan, late Meiji (circa 1910), cm174x33. Katazome cloth with a rare ‘rarajishi-botan’ motif (Chinese lion and peonies ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • boro rug, Japan, Taisho (circa 1920), cm175x97. Carpets have been rather seldom used in Japan. After the Meiji Restoration a few made ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • sakiori obi #2, Japan, Early Showa (circa 1930), cm 227x13. Sakiori weaving uses a rag weft against a warp of either bast ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • sakiori obi #1, Japan, Taisho (circa 1920), cm 283x13. Sakiori weaving uses a rag weft against a warp of either bast fiber ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • katazome textile pane1 #3, Japan, Meiji (circa 1890), cm179x32. Katazome cloth with a repeated pattern of takarazukushi (collection of treasures) motif on ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • katazome textile p a n e l #2, Japan, Meiji (circa 1900), cm188x31. Katazome cloth showing a repeated pattern of cranes and ... read more
    price:  SOLD

  • katazome textile p a n e l #1, Japan, early Meiji (circa 1870), cm179x34. Katazome cloth showing a rare repeated pattern of ... read more
    price:  SOLD