A Beautifully Faded Length of Hemp Kaya: Pale, Mottled Blues

ca. early to mid twentieth century
118" x 14 3/4", 300 cm x 37.5 cm

This is a really long and lovely piece of kaya or mosquito netting which has been woven with stiff hemp yarns.  

The cloth is an open weave mesh and is very lightweight: this faded indigo dyed panel was taken from a larger piece, a tent of sorts, which would have been placed over one or more futons at night to keep away the mosquitoes which plague Japan in their hot, humid summers.

This particular length of hemp kaya is interesting for its mottled and pale coloration.  

Somehow this piece has been faded by light in irregular patterns, leaving blotches at irregularly placed intervals along the length of the warm sky blue colored hemp mesh.

Just lovely for its unusual color and its mottled fading.