A Length of Katazome Dyed Cotton: Plum Blossoms as Roundels

kataearly twentieth century
62" x 13", 157.5 cm x 33 cm

This is a charmingly designed and generously-sized length of katazome dyed cotton that shows a lovely pattern of plum blossoms and pine.

Before we get into the symbolism of the pattern pay special attention to the top of the length: the blank space is center indicates this was the end of the bolt and some kind of identification would have been written in this space. As well, on each of the corners are undyed spots which show this was attached to bamboo pieces that helped stretch this length in the dyeing process.

Plum blossoms are significant in Japanese symbolism as they are the first to burst out from under winter's ice, thus suggesting the trait of courage. Pine has multiple meanings, two of them are longevity and conjugal fidelity--pine needles fall in pairs.

The indigo tone here has greyed from time and there are some faint stains and tiny holes (shown).

The pattern is fairly large scale and the rendering of the plum and pines is rich, buoyant and precise.

A beautiful thing.