A Resist Dyed Three Panel Noren: Green Persimmon Tannin Dye

early twentieth century
50 1/2" x 39", 128 cm x 99 cm

This is a well-worn three-panel, resist-dyed heavy cotton noren, a noren being a traditional curtain that acts as a shop sign or a kind of cover for an entrance way depending how the noren is used.  

Noren not only acted as shop signs--they are hung in the doorway of a business to announce the shop is open--but they also provided a barrier between the dust and chaos of the street and the inside of the shop or home. Additionally they provide some sort of psychological effect of delineating the transition between outside and inside.

This particular noren is machine stitched and is made of heavy cotton that has been resist dyed in kakishibu which is fermented green persimmon tannin. Kakishibu is used widely in Japan, mainly on utilitarian textiles. As kakishibu does not "dye" nor is it saturated into the fibers per se--it coats them--you can see evidence of surface scuffing on the noren in the detail photos provided here which is a result of the dyestuff sitting on the surface of the cloth and not having been penetrated into it.

As is obvious by looking at the photos here this noren was well-used and there is evidence of light fading and a some surface wear.

A handsome, still very usable traditional noren this one was clearly owned by a shop and is a wonderful example of this type of textile.

Recommended.