red vintage kimono silk bolster cushion with white cranes and gold fan motifs on neutral bench

Red Kimono Bolster Pillow -Gold fans and crane

£240.00

Red Kimono Bolster Pillow -Gold fans and crane

Name: Red Kimono Bolster Pillow -Gold fans and crane
Brand: Kimono Living
SKU: UCH085
Price: 240.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Edition of 1
c.1970s Uchikake bridal kimono silk
Very rare yuzen dyed silk and gold brocade

£240.00

Shipping calculated at checkout | 30 Day Returns

A single long silk bolster cushion cover, cut from a c.1970s Uchikake bridal kimono of the Mid-Shōwa period. The ground is vermillion, woven with golden fans (Ōgi) and chrysanthemums (Kiku) across silk with pale, intermittent flourishes of a yuzen dyeing technique. Above it all, a white crane (Tsuru) is worked in silk and gilt thread, wings open, neck curved, soaring across the surface. There is only one in this edition.

The crane promises a thousand years of good fortune. The chrysanthemum, imperial and enduring, stands for longevity and nobility. The fan opens toward a future of prosperity. Every motif on this kimono was chosen for a bride, and every one carries her hope for a beautiful life ahead.

Dimensions: 90cm x 30cm / 35.5" x 12" approx.
Vintage Textile: c.1970s Uchikake kimono silk, vermillion ground with yuzen dyeing, woven Ōgi fans and Kiku chrysanthemums, with Tsuru crane worked in silk and gilt thread
Reverse Textile: Golden hammered satin
Construction: Cotton lined with concealed zip at base for easy pad removal
Includes: Cover only. Insert not included
Edition: Limited edition of 1
Age: c.1970s, Mid-Shōwa period

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.

All pieces are carefully packaged and dispatched from our London studio (UK).
Orders are sent using tracked and insured services.

• Dispatch time: 1–2 business days 
• UK delivery: 2–3 business days 
• USA & Canada: 5–8 business days 
• Australia & New Zealand: 6–8 business days 
• Europe & Rest of World: 6–10 business days

Shipping rates are calculated at checkout.

US orders include duties and taxes.

Other international customers may be responsible for local customs charges.

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, including kimono, obi and uchikake textiles, 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.

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 crane symbol on this piece mean?

Tsuru (鶴)

The crane motif represents longevity and good fortune in traditional Japanese textiles.

Cranes are believed to live for a thousand years and inhabit the land of the immortals.

Pairs of cranes represent a happy marriage and are often found on wedding kimono known as uchikake.

Crane motif on Japanese silk textile with gold woven background (Tsuru)

Ōgi fan motif woven in gold and silver thread on vintage Japanese kimono silk, symbolising prosperity and good fortune

What does the Fan symbol on this piece mean?

Ōgi / Sensu (扇)

The fan symbolises growth, prosperity and unfolding good fortune.

Its widening form, opening gracefully outward from a narrow base, represents expansion and a future filled with possibility, making the fan an enduring auspicious motif in Japanese design.

Associated with court culture, dance and ceremony, fans also evoke elegance, refinement and celebration.

What does the chrysanthemum symbol on this piece mean?

Kiku (菊)

The chrysanthemum is an auspicious symbol of regal beauty, rejuvenation and longevity.

Used as the Imperial Seal of Japan. Spider chrysanthemums, with wild tendril petals, also carry the same meanings.

The Chrysanthemum Festival (Kiku-no-Sekku) is traditionally held on the 9th day of the 9th month.
"In the second month the peach tree blooms,
But not 'til the ninth the chrysanthemums;
So each must wait 'til his own time comes."
-T'au Yuan-Ming (372-427 AD)

Chrysanthemum flower motif on a vintage Japanese silk obi, silver on black. (Kiku)

Uchikake: traditional Japanese bridal kimono textile used in Kimono Living silk cushions and throws

The Uchikake

The uchikake (打掛, "to drape over") is the most ceremonial of all Japanese garments, a heavily embroidered outer robe worn by the bride on her wedding day, representing the pinnacle of the silk weaver's art.

This piece is made from an uchikake, carrying with it the beauty and significance of one of Japan's most treasured traditions.