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Tsumami Kanzashi for Maiko in Autumn season-Momiji (Japanese Maple)

Tsumami Kanzashi for Maiko in Autumn season-Momiji (Japanese Maple)

Description

[COLOR]
Red, Yellow, Green, Gold

[SIZE]
Momiji (Japanese Maple)leaf:Approximately 1.5 inches=4cm
Width of entire Kanzashi:Approximately 4.75inches=12cm
Height of entire Kanzashi:Approximately 4inches=10cm
Length of entire Kanzashi:Approximately 7=18cm

[MATERIAL]
Habutae（羽二重）silk dyed by Atelier Kanawa
Aluminum Hairpin made by Atelier Kanawa
Aluminum Chirikan/Ginbira
Metallic Yarn

[DESIGN]
* Momiji (Japanese Maple) Tsumami Kanzashi for Maiko-san during Autumn season.
* You can enjoy the beautiful color change of the Momiji.
* This design can be found exclusively at Atelier Kanawa. Please don't miss it (^-^)
* The Chirikan/Ginbira beautifully swing according to your movement. You will love it!

[ATELIER KANAWA'S TSUMAMI KANZASHI CAREER]
Atelier Kanawa has been making both traditional & modern Tsumami Kanzashi since 2004. She was accepted as a private pupil in the summer 2007 and was professionally trained by one of the ONLY 5 acknowledged Tsumami Kanzashi artisans in Japan.

Tsumami Kanzashi is the historical Japanese handcraft carried by refined skillful artisans. Therefore it absolutely cannot be acquired in short period of time, especially without proper training. While you may see many imitation Tsumami Kanzashi made by non classically trained hobby crafter online, you can surely find the truly authentic Tsumami Kanzashi with traditional expertise at Atelier Kanawa.

[ABOUT EDO TSUMAMI KANZASHI]
The history of Kanzashi (ornamental hairpin) goes back as far as the history of Japan 3000 years ago. In the prehistorical Joumon era (approximately. 1000 B.C. to 300 A.D.), it was believed that a supernatural power inhabited this thin stick. People wore it as a charm against evil and this became the beginning of Kanzashi.

The derivation of Kanzashi is “Kami-zashi” meaning “hair stick”. There is another theory that Kanzashi derived from “Ka-zashi” meaning “flower stick”.　

It was during the Edo period (1603-1867) that current styles of Kanzashi had been formed. Among varieties of Kanzashi in this period, Edo Tsumami Kanzashi was made for mainly maidens to wear for occasional celebrations of the beauty of the seasons. Girls wore Ume(plum) blossom for New Year, Sakura (cherry) blossom for spring, and Kiku (chrysanthemum) for autumn.

Tsumami (pinching) is the technique to pinch/pick up a two dimensional piece of silk fabric to construct a three dimensional object. This technique was traditionally utilized by maidservants in the imperial court since the middle of the Edo period. Eventually, the style spread all over Japan. Tsumami Kanzashi was often depicted in Ukiyoe pictures.

Traditionally, Japanese use Habutae silk to make Tsumami Kanzashi but there is an artisan who uses Chirimen silk instead. Atelier Kanawa uses both, other vintage silk Kimono fabrics, and rayon Chirimen silk and so on.

In the Edo era, there are five major styles of Kanzashi: Hana-Kanzashi, Mimikaki-Kanzashi, Matsuba-Kanzashi, Tama-Kanzashi, and Hirauchi-Kanzashi. Edo-Tsumami Kanzashi belongs to the Hana-Kanzashi category. Hana-Kanzashi was derived from a centuries old “Ka (flower) - zashi” flower stick, and is the most gorgeous style.

Today, there are only 5 acknowledged Tsumami Kanzashi artisans in Japan. Most of them do not have successors to carry out this beautiful traditional art, therefore the traditional skills are rapidly and certainly dying out. I am strongly eager to preserve and pass this art on to the future generation. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME TO HAVE YOUR PURCHASE because YOU ARE SUPPORTING JAPANESE CULTURE and YOUR PURCHASE COULD BE A VERY PRECIOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE.

[ABOUT HABUTAE(羽二重)SILK]
Habutae silk is a plain woven silk. It has a very smooth texture as soft, light and shiny. In Japan, we say "the best silk starts with Habutae and also ends with Habutae". Habutae silk proudly represents Japan.

[ABOUT GEISHA, GEIKO, MAIKO, OIRAN]
People tend to have a hard time distinguishing MAIKO, GEIKO, GEISHA, and OIRAN. So here are the descriptions about them:

MAIKO who wear these beautiful Tsumami Kanzashi is the age of between 15-20 years old young girls to add to the fun to banquet by singing, dancing, and playing Shamisen. They are apprentice GEIKO.

GEIKO are advanced version of MAIKO that you can become after 5 years of training. They also add to the fun to banquet by singing, dancing, and playing Shamisen.

Both MAIKO & GEIKO are registered in "Okiya" in "Hana-machi" in Kyoto, such as Gion, and sent to "Ocha-ya".

GEISHA means a person who entertains with her artistic skills. GEI means art, SHA means a person in Japanese.
The root of GEISHA goes back to Heian era. There were prostitutes and Shira Byoushi performing songs & dances that were in fashion during that time period. Eventually war era started so they had to disappear. But peaceful Edo period came. The waitresses at Mizu-Chaya for visitor of the shrine/temple in Kyoto imitated Kabuki, then performed Shamisen and dance.
This custom was handed down to Edo(Toyko of today) and gradually formed the style of GEISHA.
Today, GEISHA add to the fun to banquet by singing, dancing, and playing Shamisen. Even though GEISHA system was constructed in a licensed quarters, they are strictly distinguished from prostitute. For example, they wear Tabi socks (courtesans don't wear Tabi) and hold the side of Kimono by folding to the left so that the man can't slide their hands into GEISHA's Kimono.

OIRAN　is the highest rank of courtesan in a licensed quarters, with the highest education of classical scholar, calligraphy, tea ceremony, a 31-syllable Japanese poem, Shamisen, the game of go, and also entertainment accomplishment. In order to be steady with OIRAN, men needed to spend a vast sum of money.

Added on Sep 09, 2009