For your consideration: An antique, Japanese Maru obi from the Meiji period, circa 1890.
A Maru obi is the finest and most expensive obi. A Maru obi has a continuous design on the entire obi, front and back, unlike the fukuro obi that has a design on 60% of it. The obi depicts is a hand-woven Tapestry of the finest silk brocade. A Maru obi took more than a year to make, at approximately a centimeter or two per day. Please see the photo of an artist weaving an obi. Only royalty or extremely wealthy families could afford to commission a Maru obi. This Maru cost ten thousand dollars or more to make 120 years ago. Fine obis were so valuable that they were part of a family's inheritance. Obis are no longer designed or woven by hand. Vintage and antique obis are, therefore, priceless pieces of history and some of the finest silk brocade ever produced.
The designs woven into this Maru are fans with three different patterns, a flower cart, holding regular and stylized chrysanthemums, and the Imperial Palace with a bridge, pines, and more chrysanthemums. There is an ox cart surrounded by pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms. In between the fans are the exceptionally rare seven lucky treasures, seashells, and gold, blue, and red cranes. These are all exceedingly auspicious items. This Maru was commissioned by a wealthy family to reflect the woman for whom it was made. This Maru reflects a woman with ties to the Imperial Family, who was wealthy and steeped in traditional Japanese culture. The colors red and blue were reserved for only the aristocracy.
Please note that this is an unsewn Maru. It has a few marks on it, but is otherwise in great condition for an obi from the Meiji ( 1868-1912) period. It can be sewn back together or framed. *note, if you intend to sew it, I will send the original hand spun cotton insert with the obi.
Width-12in
Length-153
Condition-great
If you have any questions please feel free to message me. I keep all of my Obi in Tatoshi cases to preserve them. The price includes shipping and full insurance coverage for safety and customer assurance. Please note that these are Vintage/Antique items, not new. I have looked over them carefully, however they may have imperfections that I missed ( fraying, age spots, etc). Thank you for understanding.