Full view of grey silk bolster cushion made from vintage Japanese Maru Obi with pine and wild wave design

Grey Silk Bolster Cushion - Vintage Maru Obi with Pine & Wild Waves

£240.00
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Full view of grey silk bolster cushion made from vintage Japanese Maru Obi with pine and wild wave design

Grey Silk Bolster Cushion - Vintage Maru Obi with Pine & Wild Waves

  • c.1940s vintage Japanese obi silk
  • Found in Kyoto, Japan.
£240.00

Shipping calculated at checkout

This grey silk bolster cushion was once a high-ranking Maru Obi, its entire surface a riot of movement: wild waves crashing, pine branches whipping in the wind, the energy of a stormy night caught in silk. Dark, cinematic, composed. The black vintage silk reverse anchors the piece. For rooms, and people, who aren't afraid of a little drama.

Details
  • Dimensions: Approx. 90cm x 29cm / 35.5" x 11.5"
  • Vintage Textile: Repurposed vintage Japanese maru obi silk with pine motifs, wild wave patterning and woven detailing in grey, black, cream and muted gold tones
  • Reverse Textile: Repurposed vintage kimono silk in black
  • Construction: Cotton lined with concealed zip at base for easy pad removal
  • Includes: Cover only. Insert not included
  • Edition: Limited edition of 5
  • Age: Early Shōwa period, c.1940s, over 80 years old
Returns

If your piece isn’t right, you’re welcome to return it within 30 days of delivery for a refund.

To be eligible, returns should be:

• unused and in original condition

• in original packaging
 where possible
• accompanied by proof of purchase

• sent using a tracked service

To arrange a return, please contact us via our Contact Form with your order number.

For change-of-mind returns, the item cost and standard outbound shipping will be refunded. Return postage is the customer’s responsibility.

If your item arrives faulty or incorrect, all delivery costs will be refunded.

As returns remain your responsibility until received, we recommend using a fully insured tracked service.

Shipping

All pieces are carefully packaged and dispatched from our London studio (UK).

• Dispatch time: 1–2 working days

• UK delivery: 2–3 working days

• Europe: typically 5–10 working days

• Rest of world: typically 7–14 working days

Shipping rates are calculated at checkout.

US orders include duties and taxes.
Other international customers may be responsible for local customs charges.

Ethical Production

Each piece is handmade in our UK studio as part of a considered approach to making, using carefully sourced vintage Japanese silks.

• Genuine vintage kimono silks and obi belts dating from the 1930s onwards

• Sourced in Japan for their craftsmanship, character, and history

• Repurposed and reimagined for contemporary interiors

• Limited in number — once gone, it cannot be repeated

Each piece begins a new chapter for a textile that has already lived one life.

Packaging is fully recyclable, with materials chosen to reduce environmental impact wherever possible.

Care

Your vintage silk piece is made from delicate materials and should be handled with care:

• Keep away from direct sunlight to preserve colour

• Reshape gently after use to maintain form

• Store in a cool, dry place when not in use

• Do not machine wash or tumble dry

• Professional cleaning by a specialist is recommended

Made from authentic vintage Japanese silk, each piece may show gentle signs of age. This is part of its character and history.

What does the pine tree symbol on this piece mean?

Matsu (松)

The pine motif symbolises longevity, steadfastness and wisdom in age.

Evergreen through winter, pine also represents resilience and enduring strength. Pine is also one of the Three Friends of Winter, alongside bamboo and plum blossom, symbols admired for remaining strong and beautiful during the cold season.

Sometimes shown through the traditional pine bark diamond pattern (matsukawabishi), inspired by the textured bark of ancient pine trees.

Pine tree motif on vintage Japanese silk textile (Matsu)
Wild wave symbol on a gold Japanese vintage obi.

What does the Wild Wave symbol on this piece mean?

Araumi (荒海)

The wild wave symbol represents resilience, movement and the powerful forces of nature.

Rendered as crashing surf and sweeping currents, Araumi brings energy and drama to Japanese textile design, evoking stormy seas, shifting tides and enduring strength.

Long associated with perseverance and the unpredictability of the natural world, wave motifs reflect Japan’s deep relationship with the ocean.

Early Showa period Japanese textile era, c.1930s–1940s, featured in Kimono Living vintage silk pieces

Early-Shōwa Period

The Shōwa era spanned 1926 to 1989, a period that began at the very peak of Japan's textile craft — techniques and artistry that would never quite be replicated again. These pieces were woven in a Japan that has since vanished.

Maru Obi: the most formal Japanese obi textile, used in Kimono Living vintage silk bolster cushions

The Maru Obi

The maru obi (丸帯, "round sash") sits at the very top of the obi hierarchy, the most prestigious, the most coveted, and today the most rare. Reserved for the grandest occasions, it was the mark of exceptional taste and status.

This piece is made from a maru obi, among the finest silk textiles the Japanese weaving tradition ever produced.

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