The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-22
s.oprrvG IN JAPAN.


Are1caes and Prices Thaf Tempe Fem.
nipe Buyers In Tokyo.
Chicago Record
TAa >mbro.der.es OF Japan are the most
attractive things tn the shops. although
the drks are ssIuring. The delicate shades
OF color and tho exquisite designs that
are most popular IN the local trade are
seldom shipped 10 Foreign markeNs.
becal,se the artists and weAvers are con-
seryatiye and stubborn. and viii not make
them Of 4 width suitable for modern dress
eords The silks used In making the beau
tlful tfmouas and obs worn by the women
there-lIke those you see In all Japanese
plc.ure<-are very narrow. often less than
tue,ye inches wide. and the mont Arts
tic and skilisui weavers will not change
their Icons or their habits. Therefore the
best six fabrics OF Japan are no, shipped
abroad. But by using . little moral
suasson and paying little more you can
have any one OF these designs reproduced
Of 4 vftth and length to sud; you
Tns obis-fhe sashes which the Japanese
women wear--are the most beautiful IA
brics woven In Japan and are the pride CT
the women japanese belle regards her
Obj a. . European woman does her dia-
monds and although her wardrobe costs
very little compared with that OF her sis
ter across the sea, two-thirds Of its value
viii b invested In her DBL These precious
brocades absorb the most artistic patterns
that III. designers Of Japan produce. They
are ~ thick as leather and ~ soft a.
crepe. 1t il amazing how the weayers can
produce Q combination of gold thread and
silk that gllstens like metal, but Is az pill
able a cause. Obs always come four
yards and . half long and nine inches
wide and you can buy them at any price
between g and 500 II 10 said that some
Of those In the wardrobes of the women
Of the upper cult IN the old feudal times
carried as much as 500 worth OF pure gold
In their THREADS
The rarest and most beautiful obs are
now obtained Of dealers ID secondhand
goods and in the curio shops. where hey
have drifted from the kuras tfreprooe
wardrobes) OF the aristocracy and The
ge:sha dancing girls who have become
impoverished The best place to buy them
u In the cities OF the interior. The Same
10 true OF all old brocades and embrofd
cries You pay three times Is much for
similar articles in Yokohama as in Kyoto
or In Nagoya. and ten times ~ much in
London or New York. The obi is useless.
however. except as an ornament Its
colors are TOO gay for modern taste. snd
It IL too short and narrow.
The price Of smbroideries IN Japan has
futfeSS-i Nriy fafitAy WIN tfiC i4ttiiOci VI
tourists that are going that way, and those
portions Of the country which lie within
the beaten track Of travel are pretty well
stripped OF fine examples. The art deal
ers have the best that are left, and charge
fancy prices for them. But n you can
make the acquaintance OF a missionary
who IL In the habit Of visiting the towns
Of the interior. or a tea or silk buyer. he
Will take you to places where gems OF art
embroidery may be found at prices that
are almost Incredible. Curtains such as
were used years ago in the palaces OF the
Diamyos or in the Shinto and Buddhist
temples. masses Of silk and gold as thick
~ an Administer carpet and large enough
for a portiere or a bedspread. which rep
resent years OF labor and the most artis-
tic skill. can be bought for 80 or 60 yen. or
half that value In our money. FREEZES Of
the choicest brocades. heavy with gold and
silken figures. two feet wide and twenty
feet long. representing in their designs
rhetorical and NEUROLOGICAL scenes. can be
had for n or % yen: and smaller pieces,
such 40 will answer for upholstering chairs.
or tablespreads or sofa pillows. you can
buy for 81 or 81 each. When such things
get 10 New York they cost great deal
Of money. and the wonder Ii why some en-
terprising merchant does not invade the
interior Of japan and pick up a large stock
Of them.
TIE Japanese shops are undnvitiux look