This very wonderful, very worn, very small cotton kimono measures 21″ x 20″ or 53.25 cm x 50.75 cm.  It dates from approximately the 1930s.

The kimono is hand stitched from a commercially produced kasuri or ikat cotton called Niko-Niko.  This kind of faux-kasuri is really faux: the cloth was commercially printed to mimic the look of true kasuri cloth.  This kind of cotton was very popular in Japan in the 1930s.

The image on this kimono is just charming.  It seems that the cloth is imprinted with a repeating design of pigeons and chrysanthemums.  The scale of the print in proportion to the very small kimono is delightful to see.

The collar area and a patch on the back of this tiny robe are of actual, hand woven kasuri cotton, and this contrast is very subtle and beautiful.

Seeing this very small kimono in person is endearing: it is so small, it is so well-worn, it is so shabby that we know that the child who wore this kimono was certainly not of means.   We can also speculate that the child had few other garments, if any.

A really charming piece of children’s clothing from old Japan.