Spring cranes

Composition

Silk, paper, metal (lamé).

The background, a mix of off-white silk and gold lamé, is very shimmering, and you can see delicate details appearing, depending on how the light falls on the fabric. Both photos (above and below) show the same section of the fabric, photographed under different lighting for comparison.

Motif

Japanese cranes are considered mystical birds and are praised for their noble elegance. In China, the image of cranes flying among the clouds can represent outstanding personalities who have elevated higher than ordinary people.

In Japan, cranes are a strong symbol of longevity, as it was believed they lived for hundreds of years.

As a kimono pattern, it is an auspicious symbol frequently worn on bridal kimono and accessories. When a couple of cranes are depicted flying side by side, it may wish the spouses a long, happy life together. But the cranes can also be observed in many other aspects of everyday life in Japan, the most common being the origami-shaped crane, a well-known symbol for peace around the world.

Most of the time, I find that cranes represented on obi are mixed with auspicious winter motifs such as pine branches or plum blossoms. On this obi a lot of flowers and grasses are represented, evoking spring and summer. We can see grapes of wisterias hanging from pine branches, bell flowers, chrysanthemums and pampa grass called susuki.

The floral motifs are arranged on paper fan shapes, as if they were painted with all these different plants and flowers. One of the fans is covered with a wave pattern and a flock of cranes.