A Length of Lightweight Zanshi ori: Three Subtle Patches

early to mid twentieth century
61 1/4" x 13", 155.5 cm x 33 cm

Zanshi ori is cloth that is woven from threads either leftover from home production of yarn making, or from broken threads that were purchased from local commercial weavers.  Usually the weft is fed with these random threads while generally the warp is regulated producing an irregular horizontal "striping" which is the case here.

This cloth is lightweight and supple in the hand and as can be easily seen on the accompanying detail photographs there are three patches to the length, on in kasuri dyed cotton and the other two in the same cloth as the base. There is some faint loss to the left selvedge and some threadbare holes as well, also shown on the detail photos here.

This is a very nice length of zanshi ori which is soft to the touch and as so could be as usable as a scarf or fashion accessory as it can be used in the home or admired as art for its own sake.

Simple and beautiful.