A Length of Contemporary Ryukyu Kasuri: Okinawan Ikat

contemporary
48" x 14", 122 cm x 35.5 cm

This lovely length of double ikat cotton cloth is from Okinawa, and it shows the traditional motives that are characteristic of Okinwan kasuri.

The cotton yarn is not hand spun, but the cloth is hand woven; the rich, warm indigo color is Ryukyuan indigo, a type which is cultivated and used in the Ryukyus, an old name for present-day Okinawa.

The white desgins are bright white; the designs are clear and clean.  There is a small, innocuous smudge, barely visible, but shown in the accompanying detail photos.  At one of the short ends of the length, there are two, ingrained creases.

Although this is not an antique example of Okinawan cotton kasuri, this length has a great deal of beauty, and its design conveys the Okinawan spirit.