{"product_id":"a-length-of-nineteenth-century-sakai-sarasa-indian-inspired-cloth-from-osaka","title":"A Length of Nineteenth Century Sakai Sarasa: Indian Inspired Cloth from Osaka","description":"\u003cp\u003emid nineteenth century\u003cbr\u003e28 1\/2\" x 13 1\/2\", 72.5 cm x 34 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is length of stencil dyed, hand spun, hand woven cotton cloth that is meant to evoke the feeling of Indian trade cloth or\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003esarasa.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the Edo period,\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esarasa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas collected by connoisseurs of beauty in Japan who were people of great means and high social position. The fact that\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003esarasa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas imported and exotic was a lure for attraction--and add to that the mastery of hand drawn design, color and dye achieved by Indian textile artisans drew interested from Japan's elite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSakai sarasa\u003c\/em\u003e, of which this is an example, is named for the Sakai area of Osaka where this type of cloth was produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSakai sarasa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas a kind of luxury fabric in its day and even in the present era it is considered as such in Japan. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis length shows a complex yet subtle pattern of stylized flowers, stylized in a very Indian manner, delicately rendered and set against a complex background of arabesque There is overall, subtle darkening to the field of pattern--the result of wear and age--which is expected in cloth of this great age.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe colors of grey, mustard, blue and brown as shown here are masterful in their judicious placement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe back of this piece is shown here as it is quite attractive in its own right.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVery recommended for its rarity and its cultural value.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45991353254074,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/files\/Sakai4a.jpg?v=1781454795","url":"https:\/\/www.srithreads.com\/products\/a-length-of-nineteenth-century-sakai-sarasa-indian-inspired-cloth-from-osaka","provider":"Sri","version":"1.0","type":"link"}