a ‘Nicholas de Staël’ silk Obi, Japan, Showa (circa 1950), cm 353x31. The ‘obi’ is a sash for traditional Japanese dresses, and a part of kimono outfits. This one is a so-called ‘nagoya obi’, an asymmetrical shaped, shorted than usual obi that was mostly used by young, unmarried women. What we have here is an impressive textile with pattern and colors that much remind me of the highly abstract landscape paintings from French-Russian artist Nicholas de Staël. This obi makes a strong visual statement on its own, and deserves an owner with a cultivated eye. Definitively recommended.