Antique Japanese Ryogaeya Kanban Carved Keyaki Currency Exchange Signboard Edo Meiji 23"H Obi Vintage Japanese silk Haori coat

Vintage Japanese silk Haori coat in purple with colorful bursts of flower designs

temple figure

The contrast of bright blue-and-white porcelain against warm brown silk is particularly striking

minor separations

and foot registers carry geometric ruyi-head and floral scroll banding in cobalt blue

Antique Japanese Ryogaeya Kanban Carved Keyaki Currency Exchange Signboard Edo Meiji 23"H Obi Vintage Japanese silk Haori coatJapanese katachi kanban () carved keyaki signboard in the form of the rygae money exchange symbol, inscribed (Rygae Currency Exchange) Antique Japanese EdoMeiji Era, 19th century The two large relief carved characters read (Rygae "Currency Exchange"), identifying this as the kanban of a rygae ya () a licensed money changing and exchange establishment, the private banking houses that were among the most powerful commercial institutions of Edo period