A Length of Half-Width Sankuzushi: Old Basket Weave Cotton

mid to late nineteenth century
70" x 5 3/4", 178 cm x 14.5 cm

This length of hand woven cotton is one-half a traditional Japanese loom width; it seems that it was taken from the collar piece of a kimono or a yogi, a kimono-shaped duvet.

The marvelous basketweave pattern called sankuzushi in Japan is one that was very popular in the late Edo period (early to mid 19th century) and there are quite literally endless variations on this pattern in terms of scale, density and color.

It is speculated that the origins of sankuzushi are from India but similar type of cloth was also woven in China: this association of India and China with Japan is often seen and could very well be reflected in sankuzushi.

Really lovely.