Tag Archives: kamon

Vibrant Green and Indigo Tsutsugaki

March 28, 2016Cotton, Textiles, UncategorizedAntique, Cotton, green, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, meiji, momen, thread, tsutsugakiNathan S

I recently found this beautiful 19th century indigo dyed fabric that was more than likely used as a furniture cover. These were traditionally made for a wedding and often display the brides family crest. The hand spun cotton thread lends texture to the fabric. The design was worked using a rice paste resist and a method known as tsutsugaki. The light blue of the family crest is known as kame nozoki, or peeking in the vat. The fabric was first dyed with a yellow dye and later over dyed with indigo to create the beautiful green color. In the close up photos you can see the yellow dye that seeped under the resist paste. The last photo shows one of the corners where the yellow dye is also visible. I would guess that the yellow was obtained from gardenia seed pods.

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.

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

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.

I found this kamon in a Japanese book of family crests compiled in 1913.

This furoshiki can be purchased at my shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/154792021/antique-japanese-tsutsugaki-indigo?ref=shop_home_active

Tsutsugaki furoshiki

August 17, 2013Cotton, TextilesAntique, Boro, Cotton, flower, furoshiki, Hand Spun, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, meiji, momen, repair, sashiko, thread, tsutsugakiNathan S

This furoshiki or “carrying cloth” was made from rustic hand spun cotton. The design of a ginger flower kamon against a deep indigo background was achieved through the process of tsutsugaki. Rice paste was pushed through a small metal tip affixed to a paper bag. After the design had been executed the fabric was dyed and then washed to reveal the outline of the ginger flower kamon. rice paste would have then been applied again to the areas that are now white before drying for a second time.

The deep indigo color of the background could have taken, as many as, 20 dips into the indigo dye vat to achieve, while the light blue of the kamon more than likely only took a few. This attests to the great skill of old Japans rural dyers.

This furoshiki also has some beautiful repairs. there are several mended holes within the kamon itself, but one of the most beautiful is located at the center bottom of the furoshiki. This indigo patch has been applied with indigo dyed thread. I love the unintended texture of this patch.

Nothing Wasted

August 6, 2013Boro, Cotton, TextilesAntique, Boro, Cotton, furoshiki, green, horn bag, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, meiji, momen, tsunobukuro, tsutsugakiNathan S

This small tsunobukuro or “horn bag” has been made from leftover fabrics. The outer over dyed indigo green fabric once displayed a family crest of crossed feathers. It was dyed using a process called tsutsugaki. The green color was achieved by being dyed with indigo first and then being over dyed with a yellow dye to create the beautiful blue green background color. The inner fabric is a beautiful deep indigo kusari or “ikat”. Both fabrics are hand spun and hand woven cotton. The outer fabric was more than likely a furoshiki or banner before it was reworked into this bag.

This bag was more than likely used for caring a lunch box. I love the pattern produced by the reuse of the outer fabric. This bag represents the Japanese value of mottainai or “nothing wasted.” This item can be purchased at: https://www.etsy.com/listing/115393181/antique-japanese-indigogreen-boro-cotton?ref=shop_home_feat

Indigo green furoshiki

August 2, 2013Cotton, TextilesAntique, Cotton, furoshiki, green, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, Katazome, meiji, momen, wisteriaNathan S

This green hand spun and hand woven furoshiki or carrying cloth was dyed with indigo and then over dyed with a yellow dye to produce a deep green color. Time and use have given this furoshiki a beautiful gradation of colors and a random ware pattern.

The hand spun cotton has a rustic feel.

A wisteria kamon or crest has been applied to the furoshiki using a stencil. Rice paste was pushed through a stencil and allowed to dry before the fabric was dyed. After dying was completed the rice paste was washed off to reveal the design. This piece probably dates to the first half of the 20th century.