A Shibori Length from Arimatsu: Fabricator or Broker's Sample

early to mid twentieth century
25 1/2" x 15 1/2", 65 cm x 39.5 cm

This is a maker's sample showing an actual piece of indigo dyed cotton shibori in a design of oversized, stylized hemp leaves and a dotted background.

The sample is stapled into a standard, heavy paper frame that shows its style number and has some other information (such as "trademarked") written on the top and bottom of the frame.

This length is clearly from Arimatsu, the great shibori producing town in Japan which is a place where so many technical innovations in the field of shibori took place.

There is yellowing to the heavy paper frame and some accumulated wear to the cloth sample, too.

Charming.