An Unusual Tsutsugaki Dyed Cloth: Red Dairy Cow

early to mid twentieth century
13 1/2" x 18 1/2", 34 cm x 47 cm

This is a wonderfully unusual tsutsugaki dyed cotton textile. 

It shows a bluntly rendered milk cow set in the center of a length of cloth with kanji or Chinese characters above and below it. Apparently this cloth has something to do with milk production or a dairy. The background is dyed in a deep indigo tone and the cow is colored in what must certainly be bengara, an iron oxide-derived pigment dye and it is often seen on tsutsugaki and katazome dyed cloth.

Cows are not depicted on traditional tsutsugaki dyed cloth so tsutsugaki artisans were not accustomed to drawing them. This is well-evidenced in the anatomical details of this cow whose udder is not properly drawn.

The cloth was folded in half which is clear from the strip of light fading in the center of the piece.

The sheer uniqueness of this piece (depicting a cow) is a delight and is cause to recommend it.

Just delightful.