A Graphically Bold Noren: Family Crest

tsearly to mid twentieth century
60" x 50", 152.5 cm x 127 cm

This is a graphically powerful, four-panel, resist-dyed heavy cotton noren, a noren being a traditional curtain that acts as a shop sign or a kind of cover for an entrance way depending how the noren is used.  

Noren not only acted as shop signs--they are hung in the doorway of a business to announce the shop is open--but they also provided a barrier between the dust and chaos of the street and the inside of the shop or home. Additionally they provide some sort of psychological effect of delineating the transition between outside and inside.

This particular noren is machine stitched and is made of a heavy cotton akin to canvas. It has been resist dyed in what seems to be a thickly applied pigment dye in a rich, deep brown tone. Many noren are colored with similar tones of dark brown.

There is a central, boldly placed family crest of three circles which sits in the center of the noren and a roof-like design is added on top of it. This detail likely signified the noren was owned by a business and this curtain, effectively, was their shop sign.

The noren seems never to have been used, and if so, it was done lightly.

A handsome, still very usable traditional noren, this one is a wonderful example of this type of utilitarian textile.

Very recommended.