Brought back from Asia in 1940-1950's by my grandfather (merchant marine at that time) to my mother. Silk clothing with elaborate golden thread embroidery. Family legend states from Japan or China, unknown if true.
Robe 50" long, 23" wide at shoulders. PJ top 23" long, 17" wide at shoulders. Pants 37" long, 18" wide at hips
Hello, this item is a three piece Asian silk garment set consisting of a long robe, a pajama style top, and matching trousers, all executed in bright blue silk and decorated with elaborate raised gold thread embroidery. The imagery features five claw style dragons, clouds, waves, mountains, and architectural motifs, elements drawn from Chinese imperial visual language but widely adapted for export and souvenir garments in East Asia during the mid 20th century. The construction, cut, and proportions do not correspond to formal Qing dynasty court robes or Japanese kimono, but instead align with post war decorative lounge garments produced for the Western market, particularly in Japan during the Occupied Japan period or in China slightly later. The thick, couched gold embroidery, vivid synthetic dyed silk, and absence of maker labels are all consistent with export production from approximately the 1940s to early 1950s, often sold to foreign servicemen and merchant mariners.
The condition appears overall good, with visible creasing, minor wear, and some distortion to the silk consistent with age and storage, but no major losses or structural damage apparent in the images. Sets that remain complete with robe, top, and trousers are less common than single garments and therefore carry stronger decorative and collector appeal. These pieces are valued as mid century Asian export textiles rather than as traditional ceremonial dress. Based on current market results for comparable embroidered silk export garment sets from Japan or China of this period, the fair market value of the complete ensemble is estimated in the range of USD 600 to USD 1,000, with value driven by visual impact, completeness, and condition rather than historical court status.
New images submitted. Gold embroidery on robe elevated to approx 1/2 inch, on PJ top 1/4 inch. No manufacturer's mark or labels anywhere on them. Appears to be silk, possibly kimono robe. (Grandfather also brought back dinnerware labeled "Made in occupied Japan". I assume this is from the same time period.)