A Length of Indigo Dyed Katazome Cotton: Lion Dogs and Peonies
late nineteenth, early twentieth century
36" x 12 3/4", 91.5 cm x 32.5 cm
This is a length of katazome dyed cotton cloth that shows a spirited--almost wild--large scale pattern rendered in a rich tone of indigo and highlighted with a good amount of areas which are toned in ochre.
The vivid pattern is that of beautifully rendered, rather ethereal-looking, many-petaled peonies which are in conjunction with the mythical lion dog, a traditional design pair called shishi botan in Japan.
Broadly speaking this combination of two images refers to the balancing of beauty and power, the peony or botan being the sublime, royal form of beauty and the shishi being a fierce protector.
The cloth is lightly faded and worn and it has a great deal of graphic appeal and, of course, is rich in symbolism.