Japan / Circa 1900-1930s
Size : W700 D30 H1100 mm
Item Number : 16_01
Price Upon Request
An antique Japanese straw rain cape (“Mino”), traditionally worn by farmers and travelers as protection against rain and snow.
Handwoven from natural straw fibers, this piece possesses a striking sculptural presence that transcends its original utilitarian purpose.
Over time, the object has come to embody the quiet beauty of Japanese folk craft and primitive art. Its silhouette — somewhere between garment, ritual object, and wall sculpture — brings a sense of stillness and organic texture into a space.
The irregularity of the woven fibers, subtle asymmetry, and naturally frayed edges reveal the traces of handwork and age accumulated through decades of use. Under changing light, the layered straw creates delicate shadows and rich tonal depth.
Estimated to date from the late Meiji to early Showa period
(circa 1900s–1930s).
Today, pieces such as this are increasingly appreciated internationally as examples of Japanese mingei, folk art, and primitive decorative objects. Whether displayed in a minimal contemporary interior or alongside natural materials and architectural surfaces, it functions beautifully as both artifact and sculptural wall piece.
