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Hi,
I have this book. What does this book mean ? About kimono ?
I'd be interested to know the artist and any other information about this work.
Many thanks in any advance for your help.
Best regards,
Frédéric S.

Dear Frederic,
This is apparently an illustrated book on kimono patterns probably from early Meiji period.
To find out something specific about this book, a　pic
from the front cover with title and/or from the last page with the colophon would be appreciated.
With regards,
I.Nagy

Oups ! I forget the picture

Unfortunately a large part of the title label is torn,
but from the fringe print of the second pic I got it.
Title:
唐草模様紋帳大全　 A Complet Work of Chinese Grass Patterns (Karakusa-moyo)

Summary of Colophon,
Published In September 1885
Editor: Kataoka Yoshisuke
Publisher: Maekawa Zenbeei
with addresses in Osaka

Is there any chance that the flower patterns on the bottom of the first picture are actor or samurai mons/crests? I looked around and the center bottom row looks like the Akechi samurai family mon (see link below). Also, the center row left looks like the Ota clan mon. What does it say next to those two pictures? Is it just the flower name?

Just curious.

Cheers,
Stan

URL Title :Samurai Crests

Dear Stan,
It is normal with Japanese illustrated books, that they do have two topics run paralell.In this book the main topic is the Chinese grass pattern, but on the lower part of each page there are the pictures of flowers
patterns (At least I suppose, - we have to ask Frederic about it-
On the picture there are 15 different types of the same bellflower 桔梗　”Kikyō”(Campanula)　depicted.
With some modifications some forms of this flower have been used by Japanese noble families eg. Tairas, Akechis etc.
With regards,
I.Nagy

Thanks for the information.

Cheers,
Stan

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