A Bolt of Indigo Dyed Shibori: Early to Mid Twentieth Century

mid twentieth century
approximately 12 yards x 13",  10 m x 33 cm

This is a bolt of shibori dyed cotton cloth, presumably dyed in Arimatsu/Narumi, a shibori capital of Japan.

The bolt or tanmono was intended for use as a yukata, an unlined summer kimono and the pattern shown here is that of a kikko or tortoise shell background dotted with charmingly rendered flowers.

The cloth is still puckered from the shibori dyeing process; the cotton is machine loomed and the indigo does not seem botanical. There is a small spray of pin head-sized stains (which looks more like foxing) about every 12" or 30 cm down the length--completely in keeping with what you would expect for something this age.

Still, old bolts such as this one are almost impossible to find these days, so this one is a small treasure.

Recommended.