A Length of Yanagi Shibori: Abstracted Willow Pattern

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
48" x 13", 122 cm x 33 cm

This is a length of indigo dyed shibori cotton that has been taken from a yukata or an unlined, casual kimono.

No doubt this cloth was dyed in the shibori "capital" of Japan which is centered in the towns of Narumi and Arimatsu, both famous for its shibori production and the wild profusion of inventiveness of technique that flourished there in its heyday. 

The pattern or technique is that of yanagi or willow which, when you see the image dyed into the cloth, makes sense. The long lines indigo dye emanating from a single source suggest the "weeping" branches of the willow tree.

The cloth is in bright, used condition and it is a technique that is both beautiful to look at and rare to find. Please note some ingrained creases from its former life as a yukata.

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