A Length of Playfully Designed Katazome Cotton: Hollyhock Motif

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
59" x 12 1/2", 150 cm x 31.5 cm

What a charming, lively pattern for an old length of indigo dyed katazome cotton. The hand woven cotton is made of hand spun yarns which give it a rich, rustic texture.

The crowded, playful pattern highlights a leaf motif, either the hollyhock or the spatterdock.

Both motifs are extremely similar to one another and sometimes indistinguishable from one another. The background also shows some plum blossoms.

The undyed portion of the design shows a slight yellow cast probably because the original dyeing might have included a stronger yellow color: washing and treating this piece for yellowing did not bring this white area back to bright white so the color (now almost not able to be discerned) must have been intentional.

In good, used condition this is a treat for the eyes.

Recommended.