A Length of Large Scale Katazome Cotton: Stylized Tortoiseshell

early twentieth century
26" x 12 1/2", 66 cm x 32 cm

This is a length of faded, indigo dyed cotton katazome whose blue tone has oxidized to a somewhat greyish color over time.

The pattern is bold, the scale of it is large and the treatment of the design of the hexagon field is a bit out of the ordinary since it contains such large motifs in each of its cells.

The hexagon pattern in Japan is shorthand for the tortoiseshell.  The tortoise motif in Japan represent a wish for long life so this same wish is carried over in this geometric pattern.

Inside each of the cells we see alternating images of stylized chrysanthemums and paulownia flowers, each of which has imperial associations and are also popular design motifs.

There is some light scuffing and fading to the bottom portion of this beautiful length of old katazome dyed cotton.