A Length of Tsumugi Silk Katazome: Overdyed Indigo

mid nineteenth century
39 1/2" x 14 1/4", 100 cm x 36 cm

This is a length of fairly good weight tsumugi or "raw" silk that has a good texture--and has been dyed in indigo which has been over dyed in a yellow dye in order to create the mossy green tone we see here.

A detail photo of the back of the cloth is illustrated here in order to show evidence of over dyeing.

The crowded, playful pattern is that of folding fans and tachibana or Mandarin orange in a tight, overall arrangement.

The rather severe light fading on the upper right hand corner is shown here; this area is demarcated by white stitching as is another, smaller area of light fading. Presumable someone wanted to note these areas of damage, maybe for the purpose of mending them at some point.

A lovely length of quite old silk with wonderful dyeing and a great pattern.