Tag Archives: Japan

Antique Hand Spun Furoshiki with Crossed Feathers Mon

October 12, 2014Boro, Cotton, TextilesAntique, Cotton, feathers, furoshiki, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, meiji, momen, mon, sashiko, tsutsugakiNathan S

Boro kimono made from hand spun furoshiki

July 19, 2014Boro, Cotton, TextilesAntique, baby, Boro, child, children, Cotton, furoshiki, futonji, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, kimono, meiji, momen, tsutsugakiNathan S

This small kimono for a baby was made out of old material called boro or “rags” pieced together to make usable fabric. The boro material was intended to be the liner but, I have decided to show it off as the shell. the boro material probably came from an indigo dyed tsutsugaki furoshiki or “free hand resist dyed carrying cloth”. These were traditionally given in sets to a new bride and groom and were often dyed with the families mon or “crest”. I love the idea that the newlyweds used it until it became tattered and then remade it into clothing for one of their children. The outer fabric shown below as the liner has a design of small dogs. This fabric was factory made and was meant to replicate a double kasuri or “ikat” material. This fabric shows patches that do not make their way through to the lining material meaning that this material had been used and repaired at the time that it was made into this garment. More than likely it was also a hand me down.

Kamon Katazome on Antique Indigo Cotton

July 15, 2014Cotton, TextilesAntique, Boro, Cotton, futonji, geometric, Hand Spun, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, Katazome, meiji, modern, momenNathan S

This antique katazome of overlapping squares has been hand dyed with indigo on beautiful well worn machine woven cotton. I love the bold design of this fabric and I think there is something really modern about the design. The fabric was more than likely created for a nuptial futonji given to a bride and groom on their wedding.

Vintage Indigo plaid

July 15, 2014Cotton, Textiles, Thread and YarnCotton, futonji, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, meiji, momen, thread, vintage, weavingNathan S

This vintage Japanese cotton plaid was hand woven using machine spun thread during the first half of the 20th century. The weaver included chunky silk threads in the weft to mimic the texture of hand spun threads. The deep indigo colors are great and the fabric has a wonderful worn feel. this fabric had been used as the top of a futonji.

Hand Spun late 19th Century Katazome

April 30, 2014Cotton, TextilesAntique, Cotton, crysanthumum, flower, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, Katazome, meiji, momenNathan S

Late 19th century furoshiki with patches

March 21, 2014Cotton, TextilesAntique, Boro, Cotton, furoshiki, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, meiji, momenNathan S

This furoshiki can be purchased at: https://www.etsy.com/listing/179480547/antique-japanese-tsutsugaki-indigo?ref=shop_home_active_7

Cotton and Hemp Zanshiori

February 15, 2014Boro, Cotton, TextilesAntique, bast, Boro, Cotton, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, meiji, momen, zanshi, zanshioriNathan S

I recently found this very worn zanshi fabric. The warp is hemp and the weft is cotton and hemp. It has a beautiful worn feel simular to antique linen. It has been dyed with indigo, but the natural color variations in the hemp thread also lend to the design. Zanshiori is fabric that has been woven using the threads left over at the ends of numerous bobbins. due to the use of thread fragments the fabric has a random pattern and a varied texture because of the knots used to bind all the threads in the weft together. Zanshi was often woven at the end of a bolt of fabric to make use of any remaining warp.

I have listed some of this zanshi fabric for purchase here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/178807794/antique-handwoven-japanese-zanshi-indigo?ref=shop_home_active_3

Tsutsugaki Furoshiki with Noshi Design

January 2, 2014Cotton, TextilesAntique, Boro, Cotton, Edo, furoshiki, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, meiji, momen, noshi, persimmon, sumi, tsutsugakiNathan S

This Meiji era furoshiki depicts a bundle of noshi. These were strips of dried abalone given as gifts in old Japan. Over time the noshi developed into an auspicious design that can be found on many Edo and Meiji era items that were originally meant as gifts. the symbol came to represent a wish for good fortune and prosperity.

This furoshiki employs indigo, persimmon, and sumi ink dyes. The design was created by using rice paste in a resist technique known as tsutsugaki. I love the way the imperfections in the noshi are represented, I also love the deep indigo background color.

This furoshiki has several big patches which makes me think that it was extra special. I know someone treasured it due to all the work they put into mending it.

Happy New Year.

Antique katazome with crane

December 30, 2013Cotton, TextilesAntique, Cotton, crane, geometric, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, Katazome, meiji, momen, stencilNathan S

Meiji era furoshiki with patches

December 30, 2013Boro, Cotton, TextilesAntique, Boro, Cotton, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, kanji, meiji, momen, mottainai, sashiko, tsutsugakiNathan S

This Meiji era furoshiki or “carrying cloth” was probably once the smallest of a set of three furoshiki that were part of a brides trousseau. The central kamon or “crest” and the kanji on the side have been dyed using a technique known as tsutsugaki. I love the simple design and the naive way the kamon and kanji are rendered. What makes this piece so nice are the beautiful patches and stitches that adorn the back and peek through to the front.