A Length of Indigo Dyed Tsutsugaki Cotton: Rustic Hand Drawing

early twentieth century
60" x 12 3/4", 152.5 cm x 32.5 cm

This is a length of indigo dyed cotton which was decorated in the tsutsugaki or freehand drawn resist method. It is a panel taken from a furoshiki, a traditional wrapping cloth.

The drawing on this panel is charmingly rustic: the hand is shaky and the image of the peonies and arabesque lacks the sophistication often seen on other tsutsugaki textiles, but this is the charm of this panel.

The indigo is deep blue in color and the drawing is bright, undyed cotton. As is very evident from looking at the detail photos here, the resisted lines are uneven and blurred in places.

Still, all this makes for a lovely, rustic length of tsutsugaki cloth from old Japan.