A Length of Very Long, Tattered and Patched Hemp Kaya: Mosquito Netting

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
84" x 13 3/4", 213.5 cm x 35 cm

This tattered beauty is not terribly photogenic: in reality there is a great deal of visual interest in this length of dark toned hemp mosquito netting so apologies for the poor images.

The visual interest is in the base cloth, the patches, the mending, the holes and the stains which are pictured in the detail photos here. 

The base cloth is a fairly closely woven mesh hemp cloth, the entire length of it seemingly overdyed in a brown dye, probably green persimmon tannin. The age is very good, the patching is loose in parts but very good, too. The entire piece is rustic and seemingly just plucked from the source in the Japanese countryside.

Note the holes and also something interesting which can be seen on the 4th, 6th and 7th photo which is horizontal-running reinforcement stitches which are meant to strengthen areas of the cloth.

Although apologies are to be offered for the poor quality of the full image this piece has a good deal of rustic integrity that embodies a whiff of life in a rural, now forgotten Japan.