An Absolutely Beautiful Length of Cotton Kasuri: Benibana and Indigo

ca. early twentieth century
56" x 12 3/4", 142 cm x 32.25 cm

This is an unusual and beautiful length of indigo dyed kasuri, or ikat, cotton cloth.  It is unusual for its regularly spaced warp yarns that are dyed in benibana or safflower dye and which provide a visual foil to the otherwise deep indigo blue color of the kasuri.  Just beautiful.

This length is hand stitched from three pieces as can be seen in the accompanying detail photos.  The condition of the cloth is fine.

Because of the strong, coral colored verticals against the ground of a kind of diamond net kasuri pattern, there is an unintentional three dimensional visual aspect to this design--quite marvelous.

A fabulous--and unusually beautiful--length of hand woven ikat cloth from old Japan.