2 pieces available
ca. mid twentieth century
51" x 13", 129.5 cm x 33 cm

This very graphic area of indigo dyed cotton is dyed in the katazome or stencil resist dyed method whereby rice paste is squeegeed through a hand cut stencil to provide resist against contact with indigo dye.

The cloth was destined to be attached to a happi or hanten, a coat with graphic designs that was to be used for work at a business or to be worn at a matsuri, a local, community shrine celebration. In the center of the striped pattern is a band of plain indigo into which is resisted the katakana syllable "ki."

The irregular dyeing, the bleeding of the dye and the crude nature of some of the edges are what make this piece of cloth interesting. 

Recommended.