A Faded Katazome Dyed Zokin: Traditional Dust Rag

early to mid twentieth century
8" x 12 3/4", 20 cm x 32 cm

Zokin are traditional Japanese dustrags which are almost always made from layered and sashiko stitched scraps of cloth.

This is a very handsome zokin which is sewn from recycled indigo dyed katazome cotton cloth,about two layers in all.  

The very faded and worn katazome cloth, probably made in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, shows a repeat pattern of stylized chrysanthemums and arabesques.

Graphic and appealing, with a good fragment of katazome dyed cotton cloth--and were this to be deconstructed and opened there might be a nice, long piece of old katazome cotton to be found.