8029: 1980s Japanese Tsumugi (Pongee)Silk, Arai-Hari 56in.Pc.Pixelated Floral, Country Scene

Catalog#: 8029

1980's Arai Hari Cleaned Japanese Textiles: 

 Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk, Interwoven Pixelated
Country Home,Full Floral Motif

Silk Kimono Fabric by Piece

Width:14.25 inches / 36.2 cm
Length: 56 inches / 142.24 cm

• Fabric History/Pedigree:  1980s pieces received from a traditional Japanese kimono cleaner/reconstructor called Arai-Hari -- see an excellent explanation of traditional Arai Hari by textile expert John Marshall,by clicking HERE; 

• Description:  This distinctive Japanese vintage traditional Tsumugi is a light-medium weight pongee-type silk that is Indigo-black (Aizome?) with fully pixelated interwoven designs of flora (leaves and flowers), filling the black fabric; In the little black areas there are tiny white pixels; the fabric is very slightly translucent (only with bright light behind), and designs same on both sides;
  
  Motifs/Designs:  Pixelated lines fill the  fabric, off-white pixels delineate motifs and wide range of colors are used, many of them  darker pastel type hued; fabric if replete with variety of flowers, leaves etc, but also some country houses randomly placed; other colors seen are across the spectrum, and the nature of the weave and threads also has iridescence  depending on lighting; the fabric is smooth to the touch but not a satiny feel; as part of the tsumugi process all designs are the result of a pixelated effect, tiny pixels created in the weaving process (please see closeups); minimal sheen; selvage on both sides is about 1/2 (.5) inch / 12.7 mm.
  
  
• Colors: Please NOTE that colors and contrast differ on each device, so please use our text descriptions to complement your sense of the fabric.
  
  
• Condition: Excellent. Recommended for making scarf/accessories.

Popular with our antique Japanese textile aficionados and collectors

Cultural Background Note:  From www.nippon-kichi.jp:  Tsumugi are silk textiles woven by hand using thread collected from the floss of the cocoons. The floss is made from debris of the cocoons and spun by hand into thread. Because the thread is called “tetsumugi ito” or “ tsumugi ito”, the textile made from the thread became to be known as tsumugi. Tsumugi is characterized by its unique texture and dull gloss coming from subtle variations of the tsumugi threads. It is extremely durable and has been used for everyday clothes and working clothes since ancient times.... To read the rest of this page and learn more about tsumugi, please  visit: www.nippon-kichi.jp Below: Hand-made purse using 1930's Doro Ohshima tsumugi silk, made by Fumi Sakanashi, YokoDana KImono's owner's sister, an award-winning quilter in Japan. The Doro Ohshima (mud-dyed) is the center patterned portion on both sides, with the solid areas and handles being new; shown in pictures below:

 Top