A Length of Zanshi Ori: Large Katazome Patch

early twentieth century
58" x 12 1/2", 147.25 cm x 31.75 cm

Zanshi ori is cloth that is woven from threads either leftover from home production of yarn making, or from broken threads that were purchased from local commercial weavers.  Usually the weft is fed with these random threads while generally the warp is regulated producing an irregular horizontal 'striping'; if home threads are used, knotted slubs can often be seen.

This length of hand woven zanshi ori cotton is a good example of what was just described: it is of good weight and texture and its design is what you might consider to be "classic" zanshi ori.

Its blue-on-white design is attractive and its heavy warp yarns quiet the deep tone of the weft yarns which are less visually prominent than those of the warp.

And of course there is that huge patch of katazome dyed cotton which shows ivy and arabesque and reinforces the damage to the other side of the length.

A very handsome length of zanshi ori cloth with a bold visual statement.