Nuihaki (Noh Costume)
Late Edo period (1789–1868), 1801/25
Medium
Silk, warp-float faced 7:1 satin weave; patterned with impressed gold leaf; embroidered with silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped cotton in satin and single satin stitches; laid work and couching; lined with silk, plain weave; dyed with beni, safflower
Dimensions
175.1 × 137.5 cm (68 7/8 × 54 1/8 in.)
Classification
needlework - costume
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
86377
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Many of the elaborately embroidered round crests (mon) on this costume are similar to known personal crests of real actors, but others are imaginary designs. Collectively, they are meant to give this garment graphic impact when worn onstage. In Noh dramas, actors wear stylized masks and use methodical movements to portray narratives based on classical literature or Buddhist beliefs.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...