A Faded and Worn Length of Checks and Kasuri: Ikat

ca. late nineteenth century
55" x 13 1/4", 139.5 cm x 33.5 cm

This is a sophisticated and beautiful length of kasuri or ikat cloth, beautiful in coloration and delicate in its surface.

The cotton length, presumably taken from a futon cover, was used hard, as can be seen by the surface fading (verso: see the accompanying photos), but more so on the small, pin-prick sized holes that a scattered all over the piece, most notably in the orange, striped areas of the cloth, the orange color probably being benibana or safflower dye.

The cotton yarns seem hand spun; the indigo color is rich.  And the kasuri warp yarns that create the white patterning all over the piece are just beautiful.

Please look at all the photos accompanying this post to see that each of the two sides of this cloth is very different from the other, due to the light fading to the back.