A Length of Edo Komon Cotton Cloth: Minuscule Design

nineteenth century
22" x 14", 56 cm x 35.5 cm

This is a length of the marvelous, nineteenth century katazome dyed cotton cloth known as Edo komon, or what can be translated as Edo era all-over patterned cloth.

Edo komon, is a small figured, all-over patterned cloth that was popular in the late Edo period (1603-1868). 

During this time period the central government enforced laws on the population which regulated almost all aspects of life, dress included.  

Most people in Edo era Japan were ordered by the government to dress in subtle, dark colors and small patterns; because of this, elaborate, very small patterned cloth was developed and then became popular, the reason being was that one could still wear figured clothing while not breaking any of the sumptuary laws that were laid down. 

Countless tiny-figured designs were developed during this period and for this reason we know that the cloth which was used to create this garment dates to the 19th century.  The pattern here seems to be some form of abstraction which reads almost as a basketweave pattern.

This length is made of hand woven cotton and shows ingrained creases from its former life as a garment.