A Length of Beautifully Detailed Old Katazome Cotton: Double Sided

late nineteenth century
24 1/2" x 13", 62 cm x 33 cm

This is the kind of nineteenth century katazome cloth you hope to see: it is exceedingly rich in tone, it is beautifully produced, it is fairly unusual in its depiction of its subject matter and it is obviously intricately hand made.

The pattern is a crowded and rich one that depicts carriage wheels done in two different ways--the wheel is known as Genji guruma an allusion to the Heian period novel, "The Tale of Genji" in which ox drawn carriages play a memorable role.

Interspersed with these wheels are stylized paulownia flowers which refer to elegance and nobility and these flowers, too, are rendered in two different ways.

Tints of grey and black highlight the overall design which is visually shimmering from the use of small white dots against a blue or dark background of indigo.

This length is in good, used condition and is something of a treasure of katazome design and craft.

Recommended.