A Fragment of a Tsutsugaki Horse Trapping: Lapping Waves
late nineteenth century
53" x 13 1/4", 134.5 cm x 33.5 cm
This is an indigo dyed cotton tsutsugaki or freehand resist textile which shows a mirror image of a family crest and waves. Its symmetry is unusual and perhaps it was taken from a horse dressing where this type of evenly-placed, mirror-image design is usual.
The cotton yarns are hand spun; the cotton cloth hand woven. The indigo dye is still rich and vivid and the overall condition of this piece, although it is quite worn, is very good.
The images shown here, too, are deftly rendered by a steady hand, which is what you want to see in a tsutsugaki textile. The cloth itself is mended as can be seen in the detail photograph here; there are also small holes, also shown in detail.
A beautiful example of tsutsugaki dyed cotton cloth and a lovely piece of old Japan.
Recommended.