A Length of Patched Edo Komon Cotton: Hand Spun Yarns

mid to late nineteenth century
56" x 13", 142.25 cm x 33 cm

This is a length of beautifully hand woven cotton cloth that has been made with hand spun cotton yarns. It is dyed in indigo.

It is a panel from a kimono that was transformed into a futon cover; on the top, right corner we see a resisted family crest in the form of a pauwlonia flower. There are three mending patches affixed to the length each of them on the right hand side of it.

As well there is a small congregation comprised of about 6 small holes in the center of the piece. On the other side there is a beautiful, old type of pattern called Edo komon.

Edo komon, a small figured cloth popular in the late Edo period (1603-1868).  

During this time laws were enforced which regulated many aspects of life, dress included. Most people in Edo Japan had to dress in subtle colors and patterns; because of this, elaborate, very small patterned cloth became popular because one could still wear figured clothing while not breaking any of the sumptuary laws that were laid down.

Countless small figured designs were developed during this period and for this reason we know that the cloth which was used to create this length dates to the 19th century.  
The pattern seen here is simple: it is dense field of horizontally-oriented small dashes: really nice.

This is a very good length of old cotton that has all the intrinsic attributes you will want to find in an old Japanese folk textile, good age and ito aji or thread flavor chief among them.