Historical information

This tabard is one of a small number that were produced/woven by Japanese master weaver Jun Tomita during the period that he was resident artisan at the Jam Factory in Adelaide. The tabard incorporates Ikat/Kasuri woven central panels.

Tomita was born in 1951 in Toyama prefecture, and is based in Kyoto, the textile centre of Japan. The technique he uses kasuri (the Japanese term for ikat) is selectively pre-dying yarns before weaving to create pattern. The other decorative features of this garment are based on Japanese family crest designs (kamon). The pointed shoulders of this garment are reminiscent of the stiffened shoulders of kataginu, the upper part of the kamishimo ensemble that was formal wear for samurai men.

Tomita was at the Jam factory from 1976-78 and he has works in numerous public collections, including:

- Stanthorpe Art Museum, Art Gallery of South Australia / Australia
- Oslo National Gallery / Norway
- National Museum of Israel / Israel
- Stedelik Museum, Museum of Rotterdam / The Netherlands
- Denver Art Museum, St. Louis Art Museum, Long House Foundation
- Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Art/USA
- Victoria and Albert Museum, UK
- Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art, Japan

The donor purchased this tabard from an exhibition held at Wool House in Parkville Victoria, which was sponsored by the Australian Wool Board to promote the use of Australian Wool in textiles and fashion at that time, around April/May in 1977.

At that time (1976-1977) the donor owned and run a retail/display shop for craft products such as ceramics, artworks and jewellery. The donor subsequently retained this in storage with some other items since the business closed.

Physical description

Double sided reversible tabard featuring woven centrals panels. One side is navy blue with white and blue detail panels, one side is grey with green, brown and cream central panel detail.