A Length of Deep Toned Katazome Dyed Cotton: Tone on Tone, Blue on Blue

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
29" x 13", 73.5 cm x 33 cm

This richly colored, tone-on-tone length of katazome dyed cotton shows a geometric pattern that is built on a grid design and is luminous for its two deep tones of blue. The length is hand stitched from two pieces.

The pattern is largely abstract however we do see traditional images embedded in some of the larger squares: chidori of plovers can be seen as well as masu or a square, wooden grain measure are also present. One of the curved, symmetrical images seems to indicate a fishing net.

The overall design is an unusual one which might have been influenced by European design however this is simply speculation. In any case, although this pattern is very much about geometry, there are also traditional motifs that repeat and make the design very Japanese.

Delightful and unusual.