A Length of Over Dyed Cotton with Red Stenciling: Iron Oxide

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
34 1/2" x 12 3/4", 87.5 cm x 32.5 cm

This absolutely beautiful length of over-dyed indigo, hand spun and hand dyed cotton shows a ground of medium tone green colored cloth over which is stenciled a pattern based on a complex, geometric pattern whose center motif is a design known as melon flower.

The stenciled pattern is applied directly to the cloth using an iron-oxide pigment dye which in Japan is called bengara. When applied over the warm green dyed cotton, the bengara pigment creates a wonderful, contrasting cool-warm tonal effect.  In this case, the effect is also quite low-contrast as the tone of the red color is almost the same as that of the over-dyed indigo.

The cotton is hand spun and hand woven and the length of cloth shows overall fading and light surface abrasion from decades of wear. As well, there are a series of short, vertical, ingrained surface creases to the length.

Just gorgeous.

Recommended.