A Length of Rustic, Northern Tsutsugaki: Stylized Wave on Thickly Woven Hemp

late nineteenth century
56" x 13 1/2", 142 cm x 34 cm

What a beauty. Not only is the freehand drawn, resist dyed--or made in the tsutsugaki technique--stylized ocean wave beautiful to look at, its base cloth is a marvelous type of folk textile that was woven from thick hemp yarns in rural northeastern Japan.

The hand plied hemp cloth is desirable on its own but the marvelous rendering of a breaking wave adds to the allure.

This is a panel taken from a larger piece, maybe a futon cover, maybe a noren or traditional door cover, but it is hard to say.

Still, the bold simplicity of this image is striking and it is easy to imagine this old, indigo dyed hemp panel to be admired as artwork in almost any interior.

Recommended.