Brocade with Dragons and Chrysanthemums

Kinran is a brocading technique that uses paper based silver or gold foil instead of metallic threads or metallic ribbons. Simple enough yet producing shiny and dramatic results,this type of brocading developed in China during the Song dynasty and imported to Japan in the 16th century. It is in Japan where kinran weaving flourished and resulted in  opulent textiles used in garments and temple hangings.

This rather early example has a large repeat of chrysanthemums and dragon motifs in gold against a brown cinnamon ground.