A Pale Blue Lightweight Cotton Noren: Complex Large Scale Repeat Design

early to mid twentieth century
61" x 36 1/2", 155 cm x 93 cm

Shown here is a three panel, stencil resist dyed, noren--a noren being a traditional curtain that acts as a shop sign or a kind of cover for an entrance way, depending how the noren is used.  

When noren are used as shop signs they are hung in the doorway of a business to announce the shop is open, however they also provided a barrier between the dust and chaos of the street and the inside of the shop or home.

Additionally noren incite some sort of psychological effect by delineating a transition between outside and inside.

This particular one is katazome dyed in a hard-to-achieve pale blue color, called asagi iro in Japan.

The pattern is wonderful as it shows luck-bringing treasure symbols associated with a traditional group of precious objects such as clove, counterweight, granary keys and a wish fulfilling mallet.

The cotton on this beautiful noren is quite lightweight and will quiver in the breeze. There are a few small holes to it which are shown on the accompanying detail photos and some very faint mottling of dye, not unusual as this light tone is very hard to achieve.

Recommended.