A Length of San'in Kasuri: Spring Orchids

early twentieth century
25 1/4" x 13 1/4", 64 cm x 33.5 cm

This very attractive piece of indigo dyed cotton kasuri or ikat cloth is typical of the type made in what used to be called San'in, which is now  present day Tottori Prefecture in western Honshu.   

Often in San'in kasuri you will see images such as this one: a striped background against which a weft kasuri pattern is woven.  The floral image woven into the cloth is not a typical one for San'in textiles--or any for that matter--and it shows a spring orchid called shunran, really lovely.

The color on this piece is strong and is so deep an indigo tone it almost reads as black. The image is fantastically well rendered, and, it too, is lively: the image is so skillfully woven that you can almost sense the movement of the spring breezes against the glossy leaves of this Japanese plant.

A wonderful, wonderful piece of kasuri, and one that is recommended.