A Length of Rustic Tsutsugaki Dyed Cotton: Crude Drawing

early twentieth century
62" x 13", 157.5 cm x 33 cm

This is a curious length of indigo dyed tsutsugaki cotton: it is curious for its amateurish look--the unsure lines and the rustic drawing.

Why is this tsutsugaki like this? Was it made by an apprentice? Was it made by a very old artist whose age stole his former skills? The unevenness of the lines and the amateurish drawing seem to indicate that this was done by someone learning the art of tsutsugaki and with that in mind this length becomes even more charming to consider.

We will never know what level of artisan made this but there is something delightful in this seemingly unschooled portrayal of the tangled arabesque and the slight portion of flower petals that can be seen on the lower half of the cloth.

The indigo is of a very deep, rich blue. The design is strangely beautiful in its rusticity.

A lovely--and unusual--length of folk tsutsugaki dyeing.