A Length of Cotton Kasuri: San'in
ca. late nineteenth, early twentieth century
40" x 13", 101.5 cm x 33 cm
This gorgeous length of indigo dyed cotton kasuri or ikat cloth is typical of the type made in what used to be called San'in, which is now present day Tottori Prefecture in western Honshu.
Often in San'in kasuri you will see images such as this one: a striped background against which a weft kasuri pattern is woven. It is not uncommon in this region to render botanical images in weft kasuri, such as this one, which appears to be some kind of flowing stem and a heavy bloom which has been woven using white cotton yarn.
The cotton and the color on this piece are both strong and vibrant; the image is fantastically well rendered, and, it too, is lively: the image is so skillfully woven that you can almost sense the movement of the breeze against the glossy leaves of this woven Japanese plant.
A wonderful, wonderful piece of kasuri, and one that is recommended.
