French Japonistes and their Collections of Hinagata Bon Pattern Books

Abstract This article examines little-known French collections of hinagata bon (Japanese pattern books) kept at the Musée des arts décoratifs in Paris, whose origins can be traced back to the travels of the first japonistes to Japan in the middle of the nineteenth century. The reception of these books by the French artists, collectors, and writers, who identified, analyzed, exhibited, and then preserved them for artistic, encyclopedic, and historical purposes, reveals the fascination the patterns and the cut of Japanese clothing held for early japonistes . Hinagata bon were originally intended for the textile industry, but in France served primarily to inspire artists and designers of every kind. Moreover, the books were also appreciated for their aesthetic value, which enables us to assess the role of japonistes in the conservation of Japanese fashion images.