A Length of Katazome Cotton: Large Scale Pattern

early to mid twentieth century
48 3/4" x 13", 124 cm x 33 cm

This is a length of katazome cotton which is dyed in a blue tone, the dye not being indigo. The color is a kind of nice cobalt blue, very attractive, and the pattern is hand dyed using rice paste guided by stencils in a resist technique.

The large-scale and playful pattern shows a crowded field of flowers shown from the back, possibly camellias which are native to Japan and exalted in art and poetry for their beautiful, lavish blooms and for the precious oil obtained from the plant which is used in naturally made cosmetics.

There seem to be some brown tones woven into the cloth and shown on the detail photo that accompanies the post and overall the condition is used and fair-to-good as the length shows some surface abrasion and some light fading, neither of which robs the piece of its high-volume charm.