A Length of Blue-on-White Katazome Cloth: Vibrant Pattern, Faded Tones

late nineteenth century
35" x 13 1/4", 89 cm x 33.5 cm

The color tone of this faded length of indigo dyed katazome cotton has softened to a lovely grey-blue color. This quality has an impact on the crowded and busy pattern: the fading has removed what would have been the starkness of a deep blue-on-white pattern of a newly dyed cloth and we now have this very attractive length of old jishiro or blue-on-white katazome cotton).

The pattern is shows what is probably the spatterdock leaf which is very close in design to the prestigious hollyhock motif which was the crest of the Tokugawa clan. The leaves are intertwined with a thick field of karakusa or trailing arabesque.

Like the faded pattern the cotton is soft and the condition is good, but used as can be expected.

Richly patterned this is a very nice length of old katazome cotton.