A Length of Shibori Dyed Cotton: Fans and Flowers

mid twentieth century
60" x 14 1/4", 152.5 cm x 36.25 cm

This is a length of lightweight, commercially loomed cotton that has been dyed in the shibori or tie dye method. It was taken from a yukata, an unlined, casual summer kimono.

The pattern on the cotton is lighthearted in its design. It shows a meandering chain of folding fans and flowers and yellow colored flowers. A pink dye is used to add contrast to the design of the folding fan which shows a flower--probably a cherry blossom--in its center. The background is a puckered field of rich blue miura shibori.

There are ingrained creases from its former life as a garment and the length is versatile in its applications: it can be admired as art, used as a fashion or home accessory, studied for its technique or design--or in any number of ways that inspiration will govern.

Lovely.