A Figured Boro Panel: Beautiful Katazome Cottons

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
50 1/2" x 12 3/4", 128 cm x 32.5 cm

This beautifully colored boro fragment was taken from a mended katazome dyed furoshiki, the cotton base cloth of which was dyed in a lovely, ochre-like color, as can be seen on the accompanying detail photographs.

This base cloth shows a central placed paulownia family crest which is surrounded by a repeat pattern of tate waku or rising steam.  And the patches add a lot of charm and color to this cloth.

In total there are about six patches: a large, pale blue one; three of  absolutely beautifully complex, multi-stenciled katazome; and two which is the same as the base cloth.  There is some loss to part of the selvedge of the piece, a small hole, and a notched loss, all of which can be seen in the accompanying photographs.

A fantastic, old boro cloth showing a marvelous color palette and good age.

Recommended.