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About this work
Kawabaori were deerskin coats worn by members of firefighting brigades. The motifs and insignia on each coat indicate the wearer’s brigade, helping to identify individuals in the smoke and confusion of a fire. The design was created using a paste-resist technique. The resist was applied to the leather coat using a stencil and the coat then exposed to smoke in a special curing room, infusing the brown colour into the leather.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Japan
Accession Number
2014.29
Department
Asian Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation
Physical description
Deerskin coats (kawabaori) were garments worn by samurai firefighting brigades and on occasions by the leaders of townsman brigades. The designs and insignia on each deerskin coat indicate the brigade or group of the wearer and helped identify squad members and individuals in the smoke and confusion of a fire. The design was created by a paste-resist technique – applied to the leather coat using a stencil and then exposing the leather coat to smoke in a special curing room, infusing the brown colour into the leather.