A vintage purple Japanese obi silk cushion with gold and silver drum embroidery

Obi Cushion in Vintage Purple Silk with Gold Drum Embroidery

£80.00
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A vintage purple Japanese obi silk cushion with gold and silver drum embroidery
  • A vintage purple Japanese obi silk cushion with gold and silver drum embroidery
  • Reverse view of the purple silk obi cushion, rectangular in shape and on a white background.
  • Purple silk cushion made from a vintage Japanese silk obi with gold and silver drum symbols. Rectangular in shape, on a white background.
  • Detail of a woven silk gold Japanese drum on a purple silk cushion with the edge of a second purple silk cushion showing behind it.
  • Golden drum Japanese obi cushion, detail of the metallic gold drum pattern over a woven purple fan silk base.
  • Close-up view of the woven gilt thread drum motif on a purple silk vintage Japanese cushion.
  • Silver and gold drum design on a purple silk obi cushion, close up detail.
  • Rectangular purple silk obi cushion with metallic gold drums over purple woven fans.
  • A vintage purple Japanese obi silk cushion with gold and silver drum embroidery
  • Reverse view of the purple silk obi cushion, rectangular in shape and on a white background.
  • Purple silk cushion made from a vintage Japanese silk obi with gold and silver drum symbols. Rectangular in shape, on a white background.
  • Detail of a woven silk gold Japanese drum on a purple silk cushion with the edge of a second purple silk cushion showing behind it.
  • Golden drum Japanese obi cushion, detail of the metallic gold drum pattern over a woven purple fan silk base.
  • Close-up view of the woven gilt thread drum motif on a purple silk vintage Japanese cushion.
  • Silver and gold drum design on a purple silk obi cushion, close up detail.
  • Rectangular purple silk obi cushion with metallic gold drums over purple woven fans.
Obi Cushion in Vintage Purple Silk with Gold Drum Embroidery

Obi Cushion in Vintage Purple Silk with Gold Drum Embroidery

  • Rare purple silk
  • Real gilt thread
  • Limited edition of 8
£80.00

Shipping calculated at checkout

Vivid purple silk gives this vintage obi cushion immediate impact, illuminated by sweeping gold drum motifs that move across the surface with rhythm and energy. Soft silver detailing brings contrast, while woven gilt thread catches the light beautifully. Drums are traditional symbols of joy and celebration, adding another layer of meaning to this striking design. Bold, playful and full of presence.
Details
  • Dimensions: Approx. 45cm x 30cm / 18" x 12"
  • Vintage Textile: Repurposed vintage Japanese obi silk with gold drum motifs, silver detailing, and woven gilt thread
  • Reverse: Repurposed vintage kimono silk in vivid purple
  • Construction: Cotton lined with concealed zip at base for easy pad removal
  • Includes: Cover only. Insert not included
  • Edition: Limited edition of 8, with varying pattern placements
  • Age: Mid-Shōwa period, over 50 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 drum symbol on this piece mean?

Tsuzumi (鼓)

The drum motif represents joy and celebration.

Elegant hand drums such as the tsuzumi appear in Japanese art and textiles as symbols of festivity, performance and cultural refinement, often linked with music and theatre traditions.

When ivy is shown growing over a drum, the image carries a deeper meaning. The drum was once beaten to sound the call to war, ivy reclaiming it symbolises that conflict has ended and peace has returned.
Tsuzumi drum motif on purple Japanese silk obi textile

Mid-Shōwa Period

The Shōwa era spanned 1926 to 1989, its name meaning 'enlightened peace' — a period of extraordinary contrast, from wartime turbulence to postwar renaissance. Many of our textiles date from the heart of this era.

The Fukuro Obi

The fukuro obi (袋帯, "bag sash") is the most widely worn of the formal obi, a long elegant sash woven with intricate patterns, tied at the back in the distinctive taiko knot (named for its drum-like shape) that is the hallmark of Japanese formal dress.

This piece is made from a fukuro obi, its silk carrying the beauty of a craft tradition refined over centuries.

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