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Fireman’s Jacket (Hikeshi-banten) with Shogun Tarō Yoshikado

mid-19th century

Not on view

Townsmen firefighters served in Edo’s business and residential areas. Their reversible coats were made of several layers of thick cotton fabric quilted with sashiko stitching (a running stich of “small stabs”). The inner layer was decorated with elaborate designs often inspired by popular contemporary woodblock prints of warrior-heroes and mythical creatures that instill bravery or are related to water. This jacket’s interior (shown reversed) features a scene popular in Kabuki and based on a print by Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865) in which the warrior Yoshikado asks a frog sage for magical powers to avenge the murder of his father. Yoshikado holds his family banner, patterned with a tethered black horse. The subject signifies a heroic and honorable confrontation with death, suitable for such a garment.

Fireman’s Jacket (Hikeshi-banten) with Shogun Tarō Yoshikado, Quilted cotton with tube-drawn paste-resist dyeing (tsutsugaki) with hand-painted details, Japan — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Fireman’s Jacket (Hikeshi-banten) with Shogun Tarō Yoshikado, Quilted cotton with tube-drawn paste-resist dyeing (tsutsugaki) with hand-painted details, Japan

Fireman’s Jacket (Hikeshi-banten) with Shogun Tarō Yoshikado, Quilted cotton with tube-drawn paste-resist dyeing (tsutsugaki) with hand-painted details, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

紺木綿地太郎良門模様火消半纏

Title: Fireman’s Jacket (Hikeshi-banten) with Shogun Tarō Yoshikado

Period: Edo period (1615–1868)

Date: mid-19th century

Culture: Japan

Medium: Quilted cotton with tube-drawn paste-resist dyeing (tsutsugaki) with hand-painted details

Dimensions: 36 1/2 × 49 in. (92.7 × 124.5 cm)

Classification: Costumes

Credit Line: Lent by John C. Weber Collection

Accession Number: WT.Weber.14

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Asian Art at The Met

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