A Faded Tsutsugaki Panel: Missing Selvedge

early twentieth century
50" x 12 3/4", 127 cm x 32.5 cm

This is fragment taken from a furoshiki or a traditional wrapping cloth which was dyed in the freehand resist dyed technique called tsutsugaki.

The imagery is a sliver from a larger piece and it shows part of a broader karakusa or trailing vine image.  The textile's cotton is hand loomed and it seems that this piece was dipped in indigo which was overdyed in yellow dye to create a cool blue-green color.  This fragment is faded and shows some ingrained dirt and light staining; about 2/3 of its left-hand selvedge is stripped away.

This is a gratifyingly graphic length of tsutsugaki dyed cotton showing a classic Japanese folk motif.