Hikimawashi kappa (Travel Cape)
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- Title
Hikimawashi kappa (Travel Cape)
- Related Titles
original language: 紙布引回合羽
translated: Travel Cape
transliterated: Hikimawashi kappa
- Artist
- Date
second half of 19th century
- Medium
cotton warp, paper and wisteria weft; cotton lining
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
82 in x 37 3/4 in
- Collection Area
Asian Art
- Category
Clothing and Textiles
- Object Type
cape
- Culture
Japanese
- Credit Line
Museum Purchase: Asian Art Fund
- Accession Number
2011.141
- Copyright
public domain
- Terms
This striking cape is made with paper for the weft threads. Special mulberry paper was sliced into thin strips and tightly twisted around wisteria fibers; the wisteria fibers are exceptionally durable, and the paper provided warmth.
Both the name and the shape of the kappa cloak are modeled on the Capa overcoats worn by Spanish missionaries who visited Japan during the late sixteenth century. Today, kappa is still the name for a lightweight, short raincoat.
