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I thought you hung them from a bar, a dowel cut to size and some picture hanging wire?

Does anyone know about the preservation issues at hand here?

because it's an antique i think maybe it should be framed... which you don't have time for. also, would be extremely expensive.

It should probably at least be out of direct sunlight.

I would thread wooden rod through the sleeves and suspend it with ribbon or cord from eye hooks in the ceiling or clips over molding if you have it.

Terrific idea! Depending on how big the kimono is, I'd get a large (about 28" x 40") Ribba frame from Ikea (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60110086), remove the matting, use something from Micheals as a background to contrast the deep colors of the kimono and frame it.

funny, i just posted a comment which seems to have gotten lost in cyberspace.

anyway, i was saying that I'd frame it. given the impromptu nature of the situation, I'd go with a large Ribba frame from Ikea, depending on the size ofthe kimono of course. This one is pretty large, approx 28x40 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60110086, remove the matting and get something light for background to contrast the kimono colors.

I agree with Dahlia, though -- something like that should be temporary in order to preserve it correctly

Good luck!

I just hung mine on a cafe curtain rod from Target (the kind that swivels at the ends) and used the holes on the ends for a little, inconspicuous nail. $5. Easy. Not preservation-minded, though.

I don't think a normal frame would work because of the thickness and lack of a (non damaging) way to secure it. I suspect it would end up looking smashed up against the glass and eventually slide down. Professional framing would cost a fortune and probably not be ready for christmas. Perhaps you could hang on a rod temporarily (read until she leaves?) and save up for custom framing.

No DIY help here, just wanted to say that I love this idea! Go with one of the temporary solutions mentioned above and then invest some time and $ in better preservation after your mother.in.law leaves.

we 'framed' it using left over quarter round wood pieces we had in the garage. we spray painted the wood gold to pick up the gold thread in our kimono. we got a 3 inch dowel and hung it on the wall with our 'framing' it looks great. we also got some inexpensive ceiling spotlights from ikea to shine down on it.

The easiest temporary solution would be to mount a cheap curtain rod on the wall and hang it on that.

I'd go to Pier One and get a bamboo pole (more traditional) and thread it thru the sleeves. Hang it from curtain brackets for a nice look or just from inconspicuous finishing nails. Usually kimono are hung displaying the backs, which tend to be more ornamental, but that depends on the kimono. You might need to use some straight pins (if you have dry wall) to secure the corners to keep it shaped nicely. Hang it out of direct sunlight, and consider this a short term display if it's at all valuable (which many antique kimono are.) If it is, you might someday want to have a custom plexiglass box frame made -- that's the nicest option to protect it and display it.

Alternatively, just WEAR it some time when your mother-in-law is visiting -- they are gorgeous as evening wear!

IKEA frames are waaay smaller than Kimonos, which are generally 5'-6' long and wide.

I'd choose a bamboo pole or a drapery rod and hang it like a curtain panel flat on the wall - and out of direct sunlight which will destroy the silk fibers in short time.

Would your mom-in-law enjoy being included in the project? If so, it might be an idea to wait to decide how to display the gift until she arrives, then see if she has any ideas.

Besides making sure the kimono is kept out of all strong light--that includes spotlights!--you should make sure that no part of the cloth itself is touching wood (which is very acidic) or paint (which is also chemically damaging). If you're going to use a wood or metal rod, you should wrap it in tyvek, which is that plasticy-paper-like material used in FexEx and USPS mailing envelopes. Tyvek is an acid-free material, frequently used as a protective dustwraper/barrier in museum conservation. I realize that you're asking for temporary solutions, but if this is really an antique silk kimono, it is especially fragile and needs proper museum-quality storage, no extremes of heat or humidity, and very low light exposure (ideally none at all), if you want to pass it on to future generations.

go to one of the many boutiques going out of business in the city and ask for a mannequin.

I brought my mother a vintage (about 50 yrs. old) kimono from Japan in 1981. She was familiar with art conservation, and hung the kimono from a metal rod mounted on curtain rod brackets, out of direct sunlight, in her dressing room (this meant that the kimono was not touching the wall, and the lights were off most of the time). It has held up very well. It is now in an acid free box with acid free tissue paper, waiting to go to one of her grandchildren. We would suggest that if you choose to frame yours, you use a professional who is competent to deal with fabric conservation.

Hanging the kimono on a rod will put stress on the fabric and eventually you will see small tears. I suggest you take it to a textile conservator to have it professionally mounted or framed. Try the conservation directory to find someone in your area.
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/misc/people/

um. they sell kimono hangers, for like 5 bucks.

Framing a kimono is not a great idea. Especially if the kimono you are intending to hang is a traditional wedding kimono. Those are a lot more heavier than the thinner silk or cotton versions. Plus there's cotton batting at the bottom which can invite little critters. Best to have it dry cleaned (make sure the dry cleaners have cleaned kimono's before!!) store in a nice air tight box with acid free tissue.

I wore mine for my wedding and is stored away to be worn by another family member.

Good luck!

check out this site for a range of options and suggestions - http://www.marlamallett.com/kimono-q.htm

For short term the easiest is to get a pretty curtain rod and hang it on that (thread it through the sleeves). If this is for long term, try googling some ideas.

Short or long term, don't hang it in a room where the temperature changes frequently or will have lots of smells (such as perfume, cooking, scented candles, etc).

I have mine hanging on a black Ikea curtain rod. I mounted the two brackets about 3 inches apart in the center so they are covered by the neck of the kimono; the rod runs through the shoulders and sleeves.

You can see a picture here.

I have a vintage haori that I simply put up on a bamboo pole I think I got at Pier 1, like SherryBinNH mentioned above. I made a weird sort of hook for it using a shoelace (I'm really broke, y'all) and hung it on a nail and it looks really nice, and sits flush against the wall.

I have a collection of kimono. A couple of over 150 years old.

I use a horizontal pole I picked up from one Japanese art dealer or another. It sort of crucifies the textile to the wall, but it does work. I suspect a cheap curtain rod would work as well.

Another option is a dressmaker's dummy. I'd drape it like a cape myself, were I to use this option, but if you like to play, you can go for the full kimono and obi effect.

Yes, keep it out of light as much as possible. I rotate the collection so each kimono gets a chance to breath before it's folded away and tucked out of the light.

Saskia is correct. Museum display standards for kimono installation recommends low light, low humidity and to wrap the dowel/rod with an inert material prior to hanging it. The acidic issue mentioned is also key in preserving it when it not displayed (acid free tissue/archival box, silica packets, etc). Tyvek is great but maybe harder to get for you but plain muslin (no dye) would be easier to get from a fabric store. Then you just need hardware (curtain hangers) to hold the dowel up and slightly away from the wall. Make sure the dowel has enough girth to hold the weight of the kimono and also to give it enough support on the arms. To have the sides displayed flared out, you can stitch velcro at key points and affix it to the wall.