A Length of Patched Shibori Dyed Cotton: Supremely Tight and Delicate Pleating

late nineteenth century
82" x 12 1/2", 208 cm x 32 cm

Look very carefully at the detail photographs presented here as you will see that what appears as either texture--or perhaps woven stripes--actually is a very tightly and expertly pleated shibori, a rather remarkable achievement for its intricacy and complexity.

The cloth is long and appears to have been dyed twice which gives the base cloth a pale blue tone and colors the shibori-dyed pleats a deeper toned blue.

The subtlety and the mastery of the shibori technique seen on this length cannot be overstated.

The length is patched in a charming manner as can be seen on the detail photos here. Likewise there is a small hole and two faint stains, duly presented and pointed out in a photo that accompanies this post. 

This is a not-so-obvious but really remarkable length of cloth with a visual richness that comes alive when seen in person.

Recommended.