Item 2017.031 - Japanese Sashiko Firemans Coat

2017.031

Japanese Sashiko Firemans Coat

Item

1

Double breasted fireman's half coat - 火消半纏 Hikeshi-Hanten - made of black cotton in a double-layered sashiko technique - 二重刺子 Futae-Sashiko - with rectangular unshaped sleeves, two pockets and a short back vent. It fastens with ten brass buttons in two rows down the front and a heavy metal hook and eye at the collar - one button has detached. The hem, front edges and armholes are bound in black binding. The sashiko technique has been used to stitch wide red stripes over the shoulders and sleeves, two wide white stripes around the bottom of the coat at thigh level, two rows of Japanese characters down the centre front and a circle containing a character on the back in white. Inside the coat is an abstract pattern of curves and a character in white using sashiko stitching.
Country of Design: Japan
Country of Manufacture: Japan
Keywords: Firebrigade uniform, firefighting

Cotton
Colour/Print: Black (faded), red and white
Details: Sashiko stitching