A Length of Richly Patterned Zanshi ori: Leftover Yarns

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
60" x 14", 152.5 cm x 35.5 cm

Zanshi or is cloth woven from leftover threads, saved either 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.

This is a beautiful example of zanshi ori for its overall indigo tone and its tight, weft which shows a profusion of leftover yarn, for its many slubs and for the flecks of light toned yarn that give a sparkling effect to the length.

Please note the slight sway to the shape of the cloth--in its previous life it must have been used hard which resulted in this slight distortion of form.

Beautiful and recommended.