Double Sided Parrot Obi

This double-sided obi was made in Japan in the early 20th century. It is made out of silk. One side is decorated with small birds on a deep purple background, while the other side is decorated with flowers and leaves on a light pink background. These patterns were made through a combination of hand-painting and printing.

Obi are the sashes worn with Japanese kimono. They are wrapped around the waist and tied following one of a number of particularly styled knots. The most formal obi are double sided, like this example, and the patterns on both sides are carefully spaced to give the greatest effect on the finished knot.