A Beautifully Misaligned Katazome Design: Dyer's Flub

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
29 1/2" x 14", 75 cm x 35.5 cm

What an intriguing length of indigo dyed katazome cotton cloth.  

At first glance it looks like a handsome length of stencil resist dyed cloth that shows a repeat pattern of hexagons inside of which is an arranged design of stylized flowers.

However looking closer just below the center line of the length we see that the dyer mixed up the placement of the stencil in the process of dyeing and the hexagons on this line are not as intended: they each show two different motifs mashed together which is the dyer's mistake.

When it comes to Japanese textiles it is not often we get to see this kind of wonderful human error and in this case there is something delightful in this mistake--and something beautiful, too.

The general condition of the length is faded and with overall surface abrasion, both of which serve to show off the hand spun cotton yarns that were used to weave this piece.

An attractive and charming length of old katazome cotton.

Recommended.