Kite Brown & Gold 鳶と黄金

About this combination

Tobi-iro — kite brown — is the color of the common Japanese black kite's feathers: warm, dusty, rural. Paired with kogane gold leaf, it is the brown of an old lacquer box with gilt edges, a signature of Edo craftsmanship.

Where it works

• Heritage craft, lacquerware, leather
• Premium spirits and whiskey
• Editorial for classic fiction

Historical context

This palette is inspired by the tradition of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, which cataloged combinations drawn from centuries of Japanese cultural life. The specific colors here use traditional shikisai names that have been in the public domain for generations.