A Mame Shibori Cotton Tenugui: Bean Pattern

ca. mid to late twentieth century
33" x 12 1/2", 84 cm x 31.5 cm 

This is an indigo dyed cotton tenugui--a traditional, long, unfinished towel--which has been shibori dyed in the absolutely charming pattern called mame, or bean,shibori, for obvious reasons.

Mame shibori is created by hand using a kind of "primitive" folding and dyeing mechanism, the result being this length of white cotton that is studded by even rows of small bean-sized stains of indigo dye.  

Just lovely.  Note the very small grey smudge which is shown in close-up on the accompanying detail photographs.

**And have a look at this short video here to see how mame shibori is made.