A Gorgeous Length of Hand Plied Asa Cloth: Delicately Patched

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
56" x 12 1/2", 142.25 cm x 31.75 cm

What a stunningly designed and mended length of hand-plied hemp or ramie that was dyed using the katazome method.  The resisted pattern is a vertically-oriented one showing sections of bamboo stalks and leaves.

The cloth is very drapey in the hand and the hemp or ramie fibers are hand-plied, which a real plus when considering old Japanese asa cloth.  The pale blue color, known as asagi in Japan, is also pitch-perfect and very cooling to the eye.  Studding the surface of this beautifully hand-patterned length are around 16 hand stitched, postage stamp-sized hemp patches, each one delicately stitched to the surface.

A simply gorgeous length of very good quality asa cloth, this is extra beautiful for its pattern, color, hand plied yarns and good condition.

Very recommended.