Woven Treasures of Japan's Tawaraya Workshop August 2, 2012

This exhibition will feature some of the sumptuous pieces created in one of Nishijin's oldest and most illustrious workshops: Tawaraya. With a history stretching back more than 500 years, the Tawaraya workshop is renowned for supplying the Japanese Imperial Household with yusoku orimono - fine silks in patterns, weaves, and color combinations traditionally reserved for the garments and furnishings of the aristocracy, including the Emperor. The kimono, screens, and other colorful silks in the exhibition demonstrate the technical and aesthetic mastery of the Tawaraya workshop while providing insight into the pageantry and refinement of Japanese court culture.