A Length of Striped and Kasuri Cloth: Cotton and Silk Warp Yarns

ca. early twentieth century
51" x 13 1/4", 129.5 cm x 33.5 cm

What an interesting and beautiful length of indigo dyed cotton.

Presumably a panel from a futon cover, this piece shows beautifully woven stripes in between which are regularly spaced flickerings of undyed, kasuri yarns.

The combination of hard-edged stripes and the soft-edged kasuri is a very nice visual contrast, and an unusual one.

Also of interest is the material composition of the warp-directional stripes: the white and the orange stripes are of a silk yarn, the orange stripes being dyed in safflower or benibana.  These stripes show a gentle, reflective or shimmering quality when seen in a certain type of light.

Obviously worn, this piece of cloth shows seven patches which were hand sewn to prevent holes to weakened areas of cloth.