Kinran Panel

Kinran is brocade with the metallic component being gold or silver leaf paper. Simple enough yet incredibly exacting and fragile, 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 a dramatic and opulent textiles used in garments and temple hangings.This rather early example has a large repeat of chrysanthemums interconnected by twining foliage. Silver against dark blue satin silk.