A Length of Indigo Dyed Kasuri Hemp Cloth: Arrow Feather Motif

ca. early to mid twentieth century
67" x 13", 170 cm x 33 cm

What a wonderful panel of hand woven kasuri or ikat cotton.  The colors, and the scale of the stripes and the resisted white areas give the impression that this cloth belongs to the nomads of Central Asia, however this cloth it wholly Japanese in design and execution. This is a panel from a futon cover.

The cloth is warped with cotton yarns of deep indigo, orange (perhaps benibana or safflower), green, white and yellow.  The resisted yarns create the feathered forms that are woven snug inside the warped stripes.  The cloth has a subtle yet shimmering effect which is due to the indigo weft yarns and the fact that the white resisted forms have irregular edges.

The panel, in very good condition, is starched. 

Really lovely.