A Length of Indigo Dyed Cotton Stenciled Shibori: Over Dyed Designs

early twentieth century
47 1/4" x 12 3/4", 120 cm x 32.5 cm

This handsome length of two process indigo dyed cotton shibori was taken from a yukata or an unlined, casual kimono.

The cloth is made of a type of spectacularly complex-to-make shibori which we can see as very narrow, diagonal blue lines that are formed in blocks, alternating blank and full. Contemplating how this design was dyed into the cloth is mind boggling.

On top of this very nicely done shibori is a stenciled pattern of what seems to suggest something celestial: the wispy, stylized clouds and what seem to be Buddhist-related images create an ethereal mood.

The cloth is in good, used condition and is wonderful for the rare-to-find shibori on the base cloth and the nice, bold stenciling on top of it.

This hundred-year-old piece of cloth is a beauty and one to be admired, studied, worn, used in a design or fashion project--or displayed.