Banyan, anonymous, c. 1775 - c. 1800
damask, l c.135cm × w c.247cm More details
The cut of this loose garment is derived from the T-shaped kimonos with sleeves cut in one piece with the bodice, which were imported from Japan. These oriental models were imitated in all kinds of materials in Europe. Because the warp and weft (weaving threads) of the fabric differ in colour, a contrast was created in the damask pattern. Curiously, the costly silk contains many weaving flaws as a result of which the pattern does not always match up.
