A Katagami Cut from Re-used Paper: Shippo Tsunagi

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
16" x 11 1/2", 40.5 cm x 29 cm

A katagami is a hand cut stencil that is used as a guide to apply rice paste to the surface of cloth when dyeing in the katazome method. 

Katagami are made of paper that has been saturated with green persimmon tannin or kaki shibu and then smoked for added durability.

This one is unusual in the fact that recycled paper was used to create this stencil: by looking at the accompanying detail photo you can easily see this.

The pattern represented on this one is a traditional one in Japan called shippo tsunagi and representing interlocking circles, a motif borrowed from China.

As well note the isolated areas where black dye can still be seen: the random splotches on the face of this stencil add a beautiful element.

It is both charming and very rare to find--and a small gem.