A Length of Notched Zanshi ori: Drapey Cotton of Leftover Yarns

mid nineteenth century
72" x 14", 183 cm x 35.5 cm

Zanshi ori is cloth that is woven from threads either leftover from home production of yarn making, or from broken threads that were purchased from local commercial weavers. 

Usually the weft is fed with these random threads while generally the warp is regulated producing an irregular horizontal 'striping'; if home threads are used, knotted slubs can often be seen.

On this length we can see boldly placed, irregularly spaced blocks and stripes of weft design which is the result of random yarns being used to weave this panel. The random weft colors are blue, white and coral/brick. The background is a deep indigo color.

The length has lovely, drapey hand and the color is fairly bold. Please note the notch to the center, left of the length which indicates this length was taken from some kind of garment.

Lovely.