Showcasing silk dyed with beni (the pigment extracted from safflower petals) and lacquered in gold, this kimono design dates to the Edo period (16151868), when it was used as a costume for the theatrical style known as Noh. Karaori refers specifically to the exqui<\h>sitely embroidered womans kimono that traditional Noh theatre was known for. Both the material itself and?the pattern depicted would have helped tell the story of the character.