A Resist Dyed Furoshiki: Hand Spun Cotton and Overdyed Indigo

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
41" x 38", 104 cm x 38 cm

A furoshiki is a traditional cloth used for wrapping, packing, storing and hauling goods. Furoshiki come in all sizes and materials and they are still very much used today in Japan.

This beauty is hand woven from hand spun cotton yarns which have yielded a cotton cloth of good weight and texture. It is completely hand stitched.

The lush green color is the result of indigo being over dyed with a yellow dye stuff, in this case both dyes are almost certainly botanical.

By looking at the resist dyed images on this furoshiki you can see a faint halo of the yellow dye around the edges of the resisted motifs. Beautiful is the one on the top, right of the cloth which is roundel of stylized bamboo which is really nicely designed. On the opposing corner are traditional Japanese characters.

Beautiful from the yarns to the dyes, this is a handsome, traditional furoshiki.