A Length of Northern Shibori: Traditional Hemp Leaf Motif

early twentieth century
48 3/4" x 13 1/2", 124 cm x 34 cm

This is a length of nicely sturdy hand spun, hand woven indigo cotton cloth that was dyed in the shibori method in Akita, a rural area in Japan's Tohoku northeastern region.

Akita shibori is characterized by a dark ground with rustic images, often spare in their design and placement. This one is lively as it shows a wonderfully-realized repeat of the traditional hemp leaf pattern.

The tie-dyed design is white-on-blue. The blue tone is deep, velvety and even. There are ingrained creases on the length from its former life as a yukata or a casual, unlined kimono. The overall condition, however, is good and used--very good if you consider that it is about 100 years old.

This is a very attractive length of shibori that hails from an interestingly rural part of northern Japan.