A Length of Itajime Dyed Cotton: Mirror Images

ca. late nineteenth, early twentieth century
24" x 13", 61 cm x 33 cm

This length of gauzy, hand loomed cotton is dyed in the itajime or kyoukechi method, a resist dye technique which uses carved boards and applied pressure to resist the cloth in order to produce patterns.  Read more about this method of patterning cloth on our blog, here.

This particular fragment of cloth shows a repeat pattern of peonies in mirror image: this mirroring effect is due to the way that the cloth is boards are positioned when clamping the cloth.  In the center of this fragment, just between the mirrored image of the flowers, you can see a gap of sorts: it is here the cloth has been folded as it is interleaved between the carved boards.

Notice, as well, a slight tinge of pink color to the resist dyed flowers.

A lovely and collectible length of resist dyed cotton.