A Length of Slubby, Knotted Zanshi ori: Leftover Yarn Weaving

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
66 1/2" x 12 1/2", 169 cm x 32 cm

Zanshi ori is cloth that is woven from threads either leftover from home production of yarn making, or from broken threads that were purchased from local commercial weavers. 

Usually the weft is fed with these random threads while generally the warp is regulated producing an irregular horizontal 'striping'; if home threads are used, knotted slubs can often be seen.

This is a particularly good length of indigo dyed zanshi ori for its thick cotton yarns, its good indigo color, its thick, tight weave and its many, beautifully textured knotted slubs.

The color and the texture are richer than what can be captured here in photographs, and the hand of the cloth, too, adds to its good quality.

This is a very good length of indigo dyed zanshi ori cloth.