Clothes rack - Let's go

A piece of furniture for hanging kimonos and other items. It has been used since the Heian period and was called an ika or misokake. It is torii-shaped and has a stand on the legs to stand it on. It is made of square or round pillars, and the wood is varnished or painted with black or vermilion lacquer. Some were decorated with makie (lacquer painting), metal fittings, or extravagant carvings. Clothes racks were used not only in bedrooms, but also as interior decorations on sunny days, by hanging clothes on them. There was a set method for hanging clothes, which was also used at weddings in the Edo period. Clothes racks, which were once used as furniture, are now often used to display kimonos for sale and dyed and woven crafts. Folding screen style racks, which have been used since the Meiji period, have hinges and can be folded in half down the middle, and are placed at right angles in the corners of rooms. They are used to remove sweat from kimonos and to smooth out wrinkles. They are installed in homes as well as in hotels and other establishments.

[Kazuko Okano]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

着物などを掛けておく家具。平安時代から用いられ、衣架(いか)、御衣(みそ)掛けなどとよばれた。鳥居形で、脚にこれを立てる台がついている。角柱か丸柱でつくられ、木地には、ニス、または黒漆、朱漆が塗ってある。蒔絵(まきえ)で、装飾金具をつけたもの、彫刻を施した豪華なものも用いられた。衣桁は寝所用のほか、晴(はれ)のとき、衣装を掛けて室内装飾の役目も果たした。衣装の掛け方には一定の方式があり、これは江戸時代の婚礼式にも及んだ。かつては家具調度として用いられた衣桁も、現在は販売用の着物や染織工芸品の展示に使われることが多い。明治ごろから使われた屏風(びょうぶ)式は、丁番(ちょうつがい)がつき、真ん中から二つ折りに畳めるもので、部屋の隅に直角に置く。脱いだ着物の汗取りと皺(しわ)伸ばしに用いられる。家庭のほか、旅館などに備え付けてある。

［岡野和子］

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