A Narrow Length of Tsutsugaki Cotton: Family Crest and Bamboo

mid nineteenth century
34" x 6 1/2", 86.5 cm x 16.5 cm

This narrow length of old hand spun, hand woven, indigo dyed cotton shows a large, resist dyed family crest at top and a tsutsugaki dyed sprig of bamboo at the bottom. 

This length was taken from the collar section of a child's kimono. Its rather large family crest indicates that this cloth was made in the late Edo period, probably in the first half of the 19th century.

The cloth shows overall fading and wear--not surprising--and the simple charm of the family crest (tachibana or Madarin orange) in relation to the young bamboo is visually appealing.

Delightful.