A Pleated Shibori Cotton Textile: Slightly Faded Gromwell Root Dye

early twentieth century
112" x 6", 284.5 cm x 15 cm

This is a beautiful, pleated and shibori dyed cotton length that is seemingly unused. It is dyed in gromwell root or shikon as it is called in Japan.

Because this was dyed so long ago and because shikon is notoriously light fugitive you will notice some fading to the bottom portion of the cloth.

The original purpose for this beautifully dyed cloth is unclear: although the cotton looks drapey in the photographs it is of a fairly good weight--think shirting--so there is an idea that it might originally have been intended to be a baby sling.

It would be tempting to used this as a scarf but as the cotton is not gauzy you would have to be aware of that before buying it for that application.

The shibori is very nice and the pleats are still rigid and set into the fabric. 

This is a very interesting--and long--piece of botanically dyed shibori. Shikon is a wonderful, traditional dye and it is impressive to see it dyed as it is here.

Recommended.