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Wholesale Vintage Japanese Kimono Garments by Weight (10 Pounds & Up)

110-OHSHIMA: 10lbs Rare Japanese Ohshima Tsumugi Pongee Silk, Bulk

10LBS Ohshima Tsumugi, View of Stacked
Page Last Updated: October 8, 2023    
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Catalog#: 110-OHSHIMA

   Rare Japanese Textiles: 
Ten Pounds Ohshima Tsumugi  Silk Kimonos

US$9.50 per pound

10lbs US$95.00 + Shipping

Item Details and Description:

These long vintage kimonos were made in Kagoshima prefecture, on Amami Island, Japan; These type kimono fabrics are called Ohshima Tsumugi (pongee) silk. These packages of 10 pounds will have about 7 long kimonos sold as cutters; no guarantee on count as we sell by pound, and each garment varies in weight; When taken apart, there are 70-80 yards (64-73 m) of the ohshima tsumugi fabric (count of lengths of kimono liners are not included in this total); widths are typical 14-15 inches (35.56-38.1 cm). These are from 1930s to1960s with a few sometimes from the 70s to 80s; many are good enough to wear, but basically sold as cutters for use as fabric.

These long vintage kimonos were made in Kagoshima prefecture, on Amami Island, Japan; These type kimono fabrics are called Ohshima Tsumugi (pongee) silk. These packages of 10 pounds will have about 7 long kimonos sold as cutters; When taken apart, 10lbs of kimonos provides t70-80 yards (64-73 m) of the ohshima tsumugi fabric (count of lengths of kimono liners are not included in this total); widths are typical 14-15 inches (35.56-38.1 cm). These are from 1930s to1960s with a few sometimes from the 70s to 80s; many are good enough to wear, but basically sold as cutters for use as fabric.

The designs of this type of fabric are the same on both sides: designs composed by varying pixelated looks (composed of tiny dots /shapes via interweaving of dyed threads); the Ohshima weave produces a variety of sometimes petite tortoiseshell or tiny hexagonal or geometric designs in a grid formation; From a distance, some kimonos look solid, but upon close inspection, they have these tiny interwoven designs (See close-ups), in grids throughout the fabric. Pictures shown are SAMPLES of the type designs in each package, which will be unique.

Colors:  Packages are usually majority of darker colors Ohshima with some lighter shade colors in the mix. OUR PICTURES ARE SAMPLES OF TYPES OF DESIGNS SEEN IN THIS PACKAGE.

Condition: EXCELLENT, remarkable condition for age.

 Recommended:  Amami Ohshima tsumugi silks are popular among Antique Japanese textile aficionados and collectors, as well as preferred by quilters and others with projects requiring smaller patterns (interwoven), stripes or mesh-like tiny background uses in quilting.

BACKGROUND JAPANESE TEXTILES CULTURAL NOTES: 

To learn about the older Ohshima textiles, there are details on that aspect of Japan's special pongee silk-making process which can be found on the National Foundation for Promoting the National Costume of Japan website. The site explains the natural plant dyes and mud  etc. used in making older (1950s and earlier) Ohshima Tsumugi silks, 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."

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:

handmade purse, 1930s Doro-Ohshima fabric1
handmade purse, 1930s Doro-Ohshima fabric2

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Discounted Shipping Options for Shipments Outside the USA:

GlobalPost(TM) Discounted International Shipping

We also offer GlobalPost(tm) shipping discounts to the European Union, Australia, and other countries. THIS DISCOUNTED SHIPPING DOES NOT SHOW ON CART DURING CHECKOUT --

So... Please contact us before ordering to get a shipping quote to your country.  For some countries, shipping is up to 35% cheaper than US Postal Service Int'l Priority Mail.

To learn about GlobalPost please visit their info page HERE

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$ 95.00

110-OHSHIMA: 10lbs Rare Japanese Ohshima Tsumugi Pongee Silk, Bulk