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7961:1960's Japanese Silk Ai-Ohshima Tsumugi, 55", Blue-Black Diamond Grid

Distinctive Older Japanese Textiles:

1960s Ohshima Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk Fabric
From Arai-Hari Cleaner

Aizome type dye used (Japanese tode-ai Indigo) Black & Blue
Diagonal 3inches Rhombic Elements Grid Design
Floral Medallions

Catalog# 7961

Width:14.5 inches / 36.83 cm
Length: 55 inches / 139.8 cm

List: US$25.00 per piece
*Discount Price: US$12.50

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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).

Description: This is a lightweight, slightly translucent Ai-Ohshima (Japanese Indigo, Persicaria tinctoria ) tsumugi (pongee) silk from the Amami Islands, Japan. The fabric features a deep indigo-black background with designs in lighter blues; The motif can be classed as a diagonally-oriented grid with 3-inch/ 7..62 cm rhombic (diamond) elements; also, concentric nested rhombic shapes within elements, floral qualities to design; Note also the characteristic tiny pixelation caused by the Ohshima weave method. The fabric is soft with some drape (different from many we see); it also has a 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) selvage on both sides. same look on both sides; Please view our close-ups.

*Discounted: Because of some thin vertical tears about 1 inch from the right side (See our closeup images), we have reduced the offer price; This is an exquisite Ai-Ohshims Tsumugi silk and recommended for making a scarf, but due to the tear, we are offering this for 50% off.

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 a scarf

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.