A 1930 Book of Applied Textile Designs: Traditional Taste

1930
10 1/4" x 7 1/2" x 3/4", 26 cm x 19 cm x 2 cm
44 pages

This is an interesting design compendium said to have been published in Tokyo in 1930 and it illustrates textile designs that were used on everyday items.  The book is hard bound with two cloth covers and the pages are a printed in color, albeit in a limited palette.

The themes illustrated in the book are:

-happi or hanten: jackets with resist dyed designs used as work uniforms or during festivals
-family crests and company logos
-stylized writing for happi/hanten collars
-tenugui or traditional, hand towel designs
-furoshiki or traditional wrapping cloth designs
-highly stylized kanji or Chinese characters
-noren or door covering design

A wonderful design reference and a beautiful object with many pages of beautiful images, this is a fascinating document which illustrates a rich slice of Japanese traditional design.

Recommended.