6981:1930s-50s Japanese Meisen Silk Fabric Piece 62in. Arai-Hari

Vintage Japanese Textiles:
1940s-1950s Meisen Silk Fabric Piece
Arai-Hari

Width: 14 inches / 35.56 cm
Length: 62 inches / 157.48 cm
(Atypical Abstract & Geometric Grid)

Catalog# 6981:

US$20.00 per piece

Fabric History/Pedigree: Pieces received from traditional Japanese kimono cleaner/reconstructor called Arai-Hari -- see an excellent explanation of traditional Arai Hari by textile expert John Marshall,by click-pushing HERE.

Fabric Description: Lightweight meisen silk, slightly translucent, is estimated from the 1950s; Meisen is defined literally as 'common silk stuff'; and has grown in popularity in the last few years; Meisen from that period are usually larger bold patterns and bright colors, but this one is a rather unusual sort of design: A rectangular and L-Shaped figures in puzzle-like layout, each figure with different designs; These designs area mix of crest, long concentric crest or stylized florals, as well as diagonals and chains;

Cultural Note: At first glance, this fabric does not even seem to be a Japanese design, being atypical and having Western influences; In the immediate Post War (WWII)period, 1945 on, artists began expanding and incorporating creative themes from outside Japan. As a result, you begin to see things such as this; Also, under Imperial Japan wartime rule, artists and intellectuals were repressed; so felt freer once the war ended and created new looks like this one - blending traditional with Western designs.(This is just our opinion, YL);

The fabric is slightly stiff and has no sheen; the background is black but as it is replete with designs, it has an overall grayish quality when viewed from a distance; Colors used: black, gray, off-white, several shades of colonial blue, burgundy red, dark burgundy' This meisen does have slight fuzziness at lines and boundaries typical of most meisen we see from this period; patterns same on both sides; please see close-ups

Note on colors: As all devices have different colorations and contrast, please use our text descriptions of colors to complement your sense of the color of the fabric.

Condition: Excellent