A Length of Double-Sided Katazome: Stylized Geese and Vegetation

early twentieth century
30 1/2" x 12 1/2", 77.5 cm x 31.5 cm

This dark-toned length of indigo dyed katazome cotton shows a delicately drawn pattern of a scattered field of small, super-stylized geese flying against a background of long stemmed, three-leafed plants.

The arc drawn by the stems of the plants acts as a directional path for the flight of the geese and this creates a lyrical pattern that implies motion: quite ingenious of the designer.

The cloth is stenciled on both its sides so the pattern is as vivid on the front as it is on the back.

And if you are wondering why geese are stylized in such an un-goose-like way, that is the question. Apparently in Heian period art geese were drawn as "V," and when a goose design was eventually adapted as a heraldic form a head was added to the V, and thus we have this unusual vision.

This is a delightful pattern.