A Length of Indigo Dyed Cotton Katazome Cloth: Unusual Exuberant Pattern

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
62" x 13", 157.5 cm x 33 cm

This is a length of hand woven, hand spun cotton that was dyed in the katazome method. The pattern is very unusual and exciting: it shows a repeat design of large, reaching, starburst designs that seem to set the entire length to sparkle.

What makes this unusual length even more interesting is that it was stencil dyed on both its sides, a tremendously difficult thing to achieve and one requires the skill of an expert katazome dyer.

The cotton is of good weight and the texture from the home spun yarns is rich. There is one bean-sized hole to the piece, in the upper third of it, shown here.

Otherwise this is a vibrant design that is rarely seen, and in it there is a kind of dynamic force that has visual allure.

Recommended.