When the Kyoto art dealer Nomura Shojiro (1879-1943) began collecting kosode, the luxurious Japanese robes that served as precursors to today's kimonos, near the end of the nineteenth century, it is doubtful he realized the tremendous impact his collection would have on the world one day. Today, the Nomura Collection, which includes 156 kosode and 100 screens on which are mounted fragments of these grand robes, is regarded by many as the most comprehensive and stunning collection of Japanese textiles ever compiled.

Robes of Elegance: Japanese Kimonos of the 16th-20th Centuries

Hayao, Ishimura and Maruyama Nobuhiko

North Carolina Musuem of Art

1988

2003.500.1264