Two Narrow Pieces of Indigo Dyed Cotton Katazome: End Bolt Marking

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
each piece: 33 3/4" x 6 1/2", 85.5 cm x 16.5 cm

Where to begin with these two narrow, cut lengths of indigo dyed katazome cloth when there are so many things to say about them? 

First the beautifully complex design is based on the traditional well cover motif. If you look closely you will see the large, resisted white colored well covers and then, in between them, you will see outlined, smaller ones.

Moreover these pieces of stencil dyed cloth are meant to mimic kasuri or ikat woven cloth, the details are so good that some of the stencil resist dyed lines that extend out from the large, white well covers seem to ride along one, single woven thread, further playing on the theme of kasuri mimicry.

The yarns are beautifully hand spun. The indigo is a nice strong color albeit with some faint areas of wear and fading, but overall the dye is good.

There is a haze of staining that is more prominent in photographs than in the actual piece when seen in person.

The manner in which this design is structured has a kind of eye dazzling effect which adds another layer of visual attraction.

As well, as noted in the title of this piece, there is a blank space at the bottom of each of the pieces (these two pieces were once one length that has been cut down the center) and this would have been the end of the entire bolt of cloth. Information on the cloth would have been noted in this space.

Recommended, unusual and beautiful.