A Length of Resist Dyed Cotton: Allusions of Refinement

early to mid twentieth century
63 1/2" x 12 3/4", 161 cm x 32.5 cm

This is an interesting length of katazome dyed cotton; it is interesting for its groupings of stark images that point to allusions of refinement and the pageant of history.

Seen at top is an aoi leaf, a symbol that comprised the family crest of the Tokugawa clan, Japan's most powerful shogunate dynasty. The folding fan is a Japanese invention and apart from its quotidian meaning it carries references to court life, to poetry and to elegance of costume.

The plum blossoms are a symbol of vitality, hope and renewal since they are the first blossoms to burst through the winter ice. The abstract form at the bottom is a counting device for an elegant game of incense naming called Genji ko. This form suggests court life in the Heian era and is an emblem of refined senses and esoteric pursuits relegated to the upper echelon of Japanese society.

The length is in good, used condition with some light fading, some mild surface abrasion--or what you would expect from a length of cloth used in the home about a hundred years ago.