A Length of Very Faded Itajime Dyed Cotton: Hemp Leaf Pattern
early twentieth century
36" x 13", 91.5 cm x 33 cm
This gauzy length of cotton is very faded and shows patches from wear. The way the faded dye--perhaps benibana or safflower--integrates into the open fibers of the base cloth is just beautiful.
The cotton was dyed in the itajime method that utilizes a set of carved boards that are clamped onto cloth: the way the boards are carved and the way the cloths is dyed create a design onto the cloth.
The horizontal lines that appear in regular intervals indicates the area of cloth which wraps around each of the carved boards and which was exposed to the dye bath.
A delicately beautiful length of old cotton, probably taken from an under-kimono or juban.