A Length of Nagoya Sarasa: Large Repeat

early to mid twentieth century
66" x 13", 167.5 cm x 33 cm

This is a beautifully designed length of cotton of a type referred to as Nagoya sarasa. Sarasa is the Japanese term given to Indian trade cloth, so by referring to this as sarasa that indicates that the design on this length makes reference to cloth of Indian orgin.

The design of the pattern is large in scale and strident in color tone as is often the case with Nagoya sarasa.

The design seems to be loosely based on and Indian palampore and if you bear down on the way the details of the cloth are rendered you will see some reference to that.

An interesting length of cloth, probably dating to the 1930s or 40s, this fancifully designed length of cotton is a bit of a rarity and is in good, used condition with some snags to one of the motifs, shown in a detail photo here.

A curious and unusual pairing of motifs.