Geisha Hikizuri. Mid to late Meiji period (1880-1911), Japan. The Kimono Gallery. A soft chirimen-silk Geisha formal hikizuri featuring a fleet of auspicious treasure ships sailing on a frothy sea. Detailed yuzen-dyeing, with embroidery highlights and gold foil outlining. Five "mon" (family crests), so very formal. The "tarabune". or "ship of good fortune" is said to sail into port on New Year's, carrying the Seven Gods of Good Luck, their Myriad Treasures and the crane and long-tailed tortoise. The tarabune motif is normally seen on fukusa (gift cloth) given with a gift on New Year’s, and on children's coming-of-age ceremonial miyamairi kimonos. The rare use of this motif on this formal geisha dance performance kimono is notable, as too are the fact that there is not one treasure ship, but rather twenty-four: 15 on the outside and 9 on the inside. One of these 24 ships contain the Seven Gods of Good Luck, while the other 23 are overflowing with the many treasures. All the items on the 23 ships are treasures associated with the seven gods of good fortune, including the key to the gods' storehouse, the god Daikoku's hammer, bales of hay, sacred jewels on the sail, an inexhaustible money bag, and a hat that makes the wearer invisible. According to legend, the takarabune sails into port on New Year’s Eve to dispense gifts of happiness and luck to believers. It is plausible that this hikizuri kimono was created to be worn by a geisha for an important New Year’s stage performance.
