The Art of Asian Costume

Costumes, accessories, jewellery and a variety of textiles from 20 Asian countries are the objects featured in this colour catalogue, the result of the Art of Asian Costume Exhibition held at the University of Hawaii Art Gallery in 1988. Chosen primarily for excellence in design and execution, many costumes also have important historical or cultural value. There are Chinese "dragon robes", an informal ensemble that belonged to the former Queen Namgyal of Sikkim, Japanese samurai armour and a gold embroidered kimono reputedly presented to a member of Commodore Perry's party by the Japanese in 1854. Indonesia is represented by batiks and ceremonial textiles, including a dodot, or large hip-wrapper, with designs in applied gold leaf, which was worn by a nobleman of the Javanese court on his wedding day. There are tribal costumes from Pakistan and Thailand, an Okinawan dancer's costume, Thai, Laotian and Burmese silks, Indian saris, Japanese wedding kimonos and a silk ikat temple hanging from Kampuchea. Among the jewellery items are Chinese court beads, Ming Dynasty jade accessories, and gold ornaments from the pre-Hispanic Philippines.