Catalog (17)

"Shibori: The Inventive Art of Japanese Shaped Resist Dyeing. Tradition, Techniques, Innovation." By Yoshiko Wada, Mary Kellogg Rice, Jane Barton. 1983 First Edition, Kodansha. Clothbound Hardcover with original dust jacket. Condition-New. 303 pages, 104 color and 298 B/W plates and illustrations. "A photographic Gallery of Shibori Examples, based on Japan's largest collection of traditional shibori fabrics. Included also are a detailed guide to basic natural dyes used in Japan, the making...

"Tsujigahana: The Flower of Japanese Textile Art" by Toshiko Ito. 1985 First Edition. Clothbound Hardcover with original dust jacket. Condition-New. 202 pages, numerous color plates. "In this book, not only is the beauty of tsujigahana spectacularly reproduced for those making their first acquaintance with the subject, but a Japanese scholar at the leading edge of research casts a penetrating light on te background, technique, and chronology of the art."

"Kosode: 16th-19th Century Textiles from the Nomura Collection" by Amanda Mayer Stinchecum, with essays by Monica Bethe and Margot Paul, edited by Naomi Noble Richard and Margot Paul. 1984 First Edition, Japan Society and Kodansha. Clothbound Harcover with original dust jacket. Condition - new. 234 pages. "Rare and early kosode of the 16th and 17th centuries, known to have adorned some of the most resplendent personages of that age, lend particular distinction to this collection. The textile...

This tsumugi (raw, knobby silk, similar to tweed) purse was purchased at the well-known Kyoto antique textile shop Nakamura Chingiriya in 1972. It is unused and still has original box. H.6"(15cm) x W.6.25"(16cm.) Snap closes on one side, with eyelet for a hand, shoulder, or waist strap on the other. Indigo dyed folk materials and an elegant purse design make it suitable for kimono or jeans.

Two tsutsugaki (hand drawn rice paste resist indigo dyed) panels of (most likely) a 4-panel futon-ji (Bed Cover,) with design of various tea cermony implements, chadogu, used during the "ro" (hearth) season. These include tea whisk (chasen,) charcoal pieces, trivet for holding the water kettle, and feather for sweeping ash from the tatami. The center has the two sides of an unknown family crest of floral design. Japan, ca. mid-late 19th C. The textiles have a paper backing indicating they were p...

Furoshiki (Wrapping Cloth), Indigo-dyed with reinforced sashiko-embroidered corners. Additional center reinforcement panel. A few areas of repair mending and some small holes (please see detail images.)Early 20th Century. 79"(201cm) x 74"(188cm.) The contemporary image of furoshiki brings to mind a pleasantly printed small cloth the size of large handkerchief, used for wrapping one's bento (lunch box) or a small gift when visiting a friend. It is rare these days to see this type of furoshiki whi...

Indigo-dyed heavy cotton shop Apron. Stencil-dyed on both sides with shop name and address: “Dai Maru,” Akita City (Akita Prefecture;) braided cotton waist tie. Top line: “Akita-shi Chuuo Oroshi Uri Ichiba” (Akita City Central Wholesale Market,) logo: “Dai Maru” (Big Circle,) 3rd line: “Akita Dai Maru Seika Kabushiki Gaisha” (Akita Dai Maru Produce Inc.,) last line: “Denwa (telephone) 0188 Daihyou (main number) 69-5591.” Very good condition. Late1900’s. L.28”(71cm) x W.18...

Indigo-dyed heavy cotton shop Apron, for a Sake purveyor, central logo reads “Cha” (Tea, the common name of drinking establishments in old Japan was “Cha-ya,” or “Tea House.” Stencil-dyed on both sides with shop name and address, braided cotton waist tie. All lines read right to left, and top to bottom, in the old pre-WWII style. Unsure on actual readings, but meanings are clear. Top line : “Okagura” (Sacred Offering Dance Before the Gods,) right side: “Mei Shu” (Famous brand...

Katazome (stencil-dyed) Maekake (apron), Shop Apron for Konnyaku Store. Indigo-dyed heavy cotton shop apron. Stencil-dyed on both sides with shop name and address: “Yamachuu,” Nihonmatsu City (Fukushima Prefecture;) braided cotton waist tie. Top line: “Naigai Nousan Shushi” (Grown from Domestic Seeds?,) 2nd line: “Konnyaku Seizou” (Konnyaku Factory,) center logo” “Yamachuu,” 1st address line: “Nihonmatsu-shi Rotari-mae” (Nihonmatsu City, in front of the Rotary,) 2nd addr...

Outer kimono of kasuri (ikat) woven dark indigo-dyed cotton in pattern known as botan-kasuri (peony ikat.) Inner lining is a printed fabric depicting heroic imagery related to Chushingura, the saga of the 47 Ronin; snowy pine trees, helmets, drums, and the retainers themselves. This would have made an excellent kimono to wear on Tango no Sekku (Boy’s Day, which in Japan has recently become the more politically correct “Kodomo no Hi,” or Children’s Day.) Excellent condition, mid-late 1900...

Kon, dark blue, Indigo-dyed cotton haori woven in botan kasuri (peony ikat) technique. Cotton liner features pattern of a crane’s head within hexagons, representing tortoise shells; both crane and tortoise symbolizing long life. A haori is a jacket worn over the kimono when going out. In contemporary fashion, it can easily be worn over jeans for casual wear or slacks for a more elegant look. Excellent condition, ca. mid-late1900’s. L.42”(107cm) x W.49”(124.5cm.) Kasuri techniques came t...

Kasuri Kimono. Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture; ca. 1960. "Kumejima kasuri dorozome ni gyoku kasuri" (ikat, mud-dyed, 2 pattern per panel, kasuri kimono from Kumejima [an island of Okinawa Prefecture.]) L.60 x W.48” Kumejima tsumugi (Kumejima Silk Pongee) The stylized patterns depicted are described by the following Okinawan words: (squares) taachi busaa, (rectangles) mimichikitou “pig trough”, (lattice/check) kujiri koushi, (zig zag) miji fuu “water clouds”. The color ...

Kasuri Kimono "te-ui ai ji e-gasuri koushigara kimono" (Hand-woven indigo dye picture ikat lattice [checked] pattern kimono.) Yanagi Yoshitaka (7.25.1911 ~ 8.20.2003) Cotton, ikat weave. L.60 x W.48” ca. 1955 Yanagi Yoshitaka was a well-known Japanese weaver and textile educator. He was the nephew of Folk Craft Movement (Mingei Undou) founder Yanagi Soetsu, and was a founding member of Shin-Kougei Bu (New Crafts Club) along with his uncle and the potter Hamada Shoji. His entire lif...

This folk weaving loom for straw mats, ropes, and the like, was a common feature in rural Japanese homes. Made of heavy keyaki wood frame and base, this "mushirobata oriki" also has a roughly hewn top crosspiece with a natural curve. H. 131cm(51.5") x W. 147cm(58") x D.(base) 46cm(18"). Late Edo to Early Meiji Era.

Indigo dyed cotton wrapping cloth, furoshiki, from late Meiji Era. The family crest stencil dyed (katazome) into the corner is "anzu-botan" (apricot-peony). L.133cm (52.25") x W.130cm (51").

Furoshiki, wrapping cloth, of indigo dyed (aizome) cotton. Two corners display a "kiri" (paulownia) crest, and there is karakusa scrolling around the entire border, stenciled dyed (katazome.) Ca. late Meiji Era (1868-1912). L.142cm (56") x W.132cm (52").

Meiji Era futon-ji; indigo dyed cotton with tsutsugaki (free-hand drawn resist) image of the Three Friends of Winter: Pine, Bamboo, and Plum. L.150cm(59") x W.128cm(50"). Such bedding covers were given as part of a bride's dowry, commissioned with auspicious images or a family crest by the bride's family. This theme of Pine, Bamboo, and Plum was especially auspicous for a newly married couple, with each element having its own characteristic way of overcoming hardship (the cold winter.) The free-...