A Length of Zanshi ori: Leftover Warp

mid twentieth century
28 1/4" x 14", 71.5 cm x 35.5 cm

Zanshi ori is cloth that is woven from threads either leftover from home production of yarn making, or from broken threads that were purchased from local commercial weavers. 

Usually the weft is fed with these random threads while generally the warp is regulated producing an irregular horizontal 'striping.'

This piece is notable because it is the warp yarns that are leftover and this accounts for the erratic vertical rows of blips and irregular marks.

More than likely this piece was machine woven--and that is interesting to show that even in the industrialized age Japan was still guarding its traditions and still concerned about exhausting all resources until they were completely used.

In good, used condition this length of zanshi ori cotton is highly attractive for its randomness and its nice, light coloration.