A Length of Narumi Kongata: Specialized Katazome Dyeing

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
32" x 13 3/4", 81.5 cm x 35 cm

Narumi kongata is a multi-stenciled type of katazome dyeing: the many stencils used in this process are in the service of making soft edges and contours to images as well as for evoking a shibori type of effect.

This particular length of Narumi kongata is unusual for being thickly woven cotton cloth that is hand made of hand spun yarns.

The deep toned images are esoteric: we seem figures from an incense naming game, scrolls of knowledge and stars arranged in a way that suggests a pattern of hexagons, a reference to tortoiseshell that conveys a wish for long life.

The images are a bit blurred since the base cloth is so thickly woven, and the deep tone of indigo is very attractive.