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7960:1960's Japanese Silk Ohshima Tsumugi, 58", Burgundy-Red, Floral Medallions

Distinctive Older Japanese Textiles:

1960s Ohshima Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk Fabric
(Pieces From Deconstructed Vintage Kimono)

Burgundy-Red w/Silver-White Large Diamond Shapes, Floral Medallion Patterns

Catalog# 7960

Width:14.25 inches / 36.2 cm
Length: 58 inches / 147.32 cm

US$25.00 per piece
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Item Details and Description:

Fabric History/Pedigree: 1960s fabric from kimono pieces obtained from an Arai Hari (special Japanese kimono cleaner -- see info on Arai-Hari HERE from John Marshall, expert on Japanese textiles). This fabric was not cleaned, however.

Description: This is a light-medium weight, minimally translucent Ohshima tsumugi (pongee) silk from the Amami Islands, Japan. The fabric features a burgundy-red background with large-scale floral and geometric diamond-shaped and intricately patterned medallions filling the fabric; At the center of the large diamond formations is a mustard-colored accent dab. Note also the characteristic tiny pixelation caused by the Ohshima weave method. The fabric is smooth with a sheen in the design areas; it also has a 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) irregularly-lined selvage on both sides. same look on both sides; Please view our close-ups.

Cultural Background Information:

Details on this part of Japan's special pongee silk-making process can be found on the National Foundation for Promoting the National Costume of Japan website, which explains the natural plant dyes and mud etc. used in making Ohshima Tsumugi, quoted here:

Characteristics: A plain woven silk fabric with pre-dyed scoured threads both for warp and weft. The color is refined and calm and the fabric is soft and difficult to wrinkle. Threads are dyed with plant dyes such as "Techiki" (Raphilolepis umbellata) and indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) with a technique, peculiar only to "Oshima Tsumugi," called "Ori Jime." As a variety, an additional treatment is made to the dyed thread by dipping them in muddy water. It is "Doro(mud) Zome(dyeing)." There are several kinds of "Oshima Tsumugi":"Doro Oshima," "Ai(indigo) Oshima," "Doro Ai Oshima," "Iro(color) Oshima" and "Natsu(summer) Oshima."

Recommended for making scarf/accessories.

Colors: Please use our text color descriptions to complement your sense of the fabric due to differences in contrast and color on different devices.

Condition: EXCELLENT.

Popular with our antique Japanese textile aficionados and collectors.