Vintage Japanese Silk Kimono Burgundy Peony Chirimen Crepe Showa

Vintage Japanese 着物 Kimono — Silk Chirimen Crepe, Burgundy Ground with Yūzen Botan Peony Design, Showa Period

Japan, Showa Period (1926–1989)

This vintage Japanese kimono is worked in silk chirimen (縮緬) crepe, its fine pebbled weave lending the deep burgundy ground a subtle luminosity that shifts beautifully in changing light. The garment is cut in a full-length formal style with short sleeves finished in a red lining flash at the cuff edge. The overall form is elegant and well-proportioned.

The design is a scattered trailing botan (牡丹) peony composition rendered in the yūzen (友禅) tradition — each bloom individually shaded in orange-red, blush pink, and creamy white. Flowers appear in multiple states of bloom, from tight bud to fully open face, lending the design a naturalistic rhythm. The painterly outlining and soft color gradation are hallmarks of accomplished yūzen dyework.

The botan peony holds a privileged place in Japanese decorative arts, long associated with wealth, good fortune, and the beauty of summer. Known as 花王 (kaō) — the king of flowers — it appears across lacquer, textile, and ceramic traditions as an emblem of prosperity and feminine elegance. On a deep wine ground, the botan carries particular visual weight, the contrast between ground and motif creating a composition that is at once bold and refined.

Condition: This is a vintage silk garment and may exhibit minor age-related characteristics such as slight discoloration, faint spotting, or occasional pulled threads consistent with its age and prior wear. Please see photos for details and feel free to contact us with any questions prior to purchase.

A striking Showa-period silk kimono in a classic and commercially appealing colorway — the deep burgundy chirimen ground and full botan peony design make this an excellent candidate for wear, display, or textile repurposing.