A Length of Jishiro Katazome Cotton: Blue on White Design

early twentieth century
56" x 13 3/4", 142 cm x 35 cm

In Japan blue-on-white katazome cloth is called jishiro and it is the result of great skill on the part of the artisan dyer.

Usually katazome cloth is white-on-blue which, while requiring great skill to produce, is more common and therefore less difficult to make as its blue-on-white counterpart.

This marvelous pattern of whorls and eddies of water seems to have been resisted on both its sides which adds to the tremendous skill needed in creating it. The pattern recalls delicate filigree and it is a joy to look at.

There seems not to be any noticeable damage to this length which is still bright white overall and more than likely would have been part of a yukata or an unlined, casual kimono.

A beauty.