A Length of Jishiro Katazome: Tortoiseshell and Chrysanthemums

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
33 1/4" x 12 1/2", 85 cm x 32 cm

This faded and greyed length of indigo dyed katazome cotton is of the blue-on-white variety known as jishiro katazome, a slightly more desirable type than the white-on-blue type of katazome.

It shows a repeat pattern of fairly large-scale hexagons each of which contains a stylized chrysanthemum. The borders in between the hexagons are filled with similar, ovoid-shaped chrysanthemums and a trailing vine. 

Hexagon shapes are interesting because they suggest a tortoiseshell pattern, the tortoise being a conveyance for a wish for a long life.

The length is starched and the cotton is hand spun and hand woven. As noted earlier the indigo has faded to a greyish tone but the pattern is still strong and clear.

A classic pattern rendered beautifully, this is a very nice length of katazome dyed cotton.