7799: 1990s Japanese Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk,AraiHari 60in.Impressionistic-Bamboo

Catalog#: 7799

1990's Arai Hari Cleaned Japanese Textiles:
Modernistic Impressionist Bamboo Forest,
Pines,Bamboo Leaves,Blossoms

  Tsumugi Silk Kimono Fabric by Piece

Width:15 inches / 38.1 cm
Length: 60 inches / 152.4 cm

• Fabric History/Pedigree:  1990s  or earlier silk fabric pieces received from traditional Japanese kimono cleaner/reconstructor called Arai-Hari -- see an excellent explanation of traditional Arai Hari by textile expert  John  Marshall, expert on Japanese textiles  HERE .)
  
  
• Description:  This distinctive Japanese vintage traditional Tsumugi is a medium-lightweight pongee-type silk that is a navy-blue background with motifs in dark blue with some shading; the fabric is stiff and not translucent; and designs same on both sides;
  
  Motifs/Designs:  Pixelated tiny white on navy blue background field shows what seems to our eye to be an impressionistic rendering of a bamboo thicket with pine branches (classic style), bamboo leaves and blossoms; The bamboo themselves streak down the full length yet broken; we see another more stylized modern take on a common Japanese art theem; 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 3/8th(.375)inch / 9.53mm.
  
  
• 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: