Mon Size Through the Ages

[AnaIkimaru]

Taisho and after:

.75 in or 1.875 cm Early to Mid Meiji:
1.5 in or 3.75 cm Latter Edo Era:


1.75 in or 4.375 cm While these are pretty much standard from what I've seen, there is a degree of variation offered for certain reasons. I've spoken to a few different appraisers, collectors, and even dealers both in Japan and in the Eastern United States about this and we all reached the same consensus. Samurai- The better known and paid, the bigger the mons. Stage Kimono- visibility factor. Wealth- If you've got it, flaunt it. Geisha's Kimono- maybe to make it clear what house one worked in, or dance master, etc. Also another way to differentiate the Geisha class from woman dressed before Western Attire became the norm. So you may think I'm smoking something with that last statement, but I'll try to explain with a crappy picture I took:

Taisho Era Kurotomesode:

Taisho Era Hikizuri

Clearly bigger. What I'm wondering is in the Eras that are much longer is if fellow member could measure their mons with the approximate age of their kimono. Might help us all more accurately date our kimono.