A Length of Brown Colored Stenciled Cotton: Roundels of Wisteria

late nineteenth century
55 1/2" x 12 3/4", 141 cm x 32.25 cm

This good-sized length of stencil dyed cotton shows a beautiful, rich brown color, possibly  derived from mineral pigments. 

The cotton cloth is simply beautiful in that it is hand spun and hand woven, two very desirable aspects when considering old Japanese folk textiles. 

As well, the large-scale pattern showing wisteria blooms stylized as roundels is graphically interesting as well as delicately beautiful.

There is a faint stain on one of the roundels, shown, but otherwise the length is in good, used condition.