A Length of Mame Shibori: Bean Motif

mid twentieth century
32" x 13", 81 cm x 33 cm

This is an indigo dyed cotton tenugui--a traditional, unfinished lightweight cotton towel--which has been shibori dyed in the absolutely charming pattern called mame, or bean,shibori, for obvious reasons.

Mame shibori is created by hand using a kind of "primitive" folding and dyeing mechanism, the result being this length of white cotton that is studded by even rows of small bean-sized stains of indigo dye.  

Just lovely and a wonderful, hand dyed cotton length of shibori. 

Some mild surface patina and fading with two very pale, stains shown in the accompanying detail photos and noticeable only if you look very hard.