A Beautifully Realized Intact Shibori Futon Cover: Spare Images

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
60" x 31", 152.5 cm x 79 cm

This wonderful looking thing is an intact futon cover that is decorated with two long panels of indigo dyed shibori of spare design.

Each of the two panels bearing the shibori images is of a very subtle shade of indigo, almost impossible to note unless looked at with scrutiny.

The images shown are cherry blossoms and folding fans, each of which has been rendered in a different manner. Some are purely linear while others are filled in or of a mottled white, or resisted, tone. The effect is playful.

The border and the back of the futon cover are hand stitched of indigo dyed cotton and the seam on the top border has unraveled a bit.

This piece would look wonderful displayed as-is or, alternatively, if you are creative and have skills, it could be put back to life as the futon cover it once was.

The straightforward design and the placement of the white images against the blue background is both elegant and rustic.

Simply beautiful.