Vintage Japanese Kimono Fabrics by Pieces: Japanese Textile Fabric Swatches

7801: 1960s Japanese Ohshima Tsumugi Silk. Arai-Hari, 58in. Medallions, Checkerboard

1960's Ohshima Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk Fabric
Used/Cleaned Arai-Hari
Large Checkerboard, Medallions Motif

Catalog# 7801

Width:14 inches / 35.56 cm
Length: 58 inches / 147.32 cm

US$19.00 per piece
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Item Details and Description

Fabric History/Pedigree: 1960s fabric from kimono pieces from an Arai Hari (special Japanese kimono cleaner -- see info on Arai-Hari HERE from John Marshall, expert on Japanese textiles .)

This is a special delicate lightweight Ohshima tsumugi silk from Amami Islands, Japan. 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."

Fabric Description Details:

Lightweight, minimally translucent Oshima Tsumugi silk fabric with design the same on both sides; Background color is black with motif in shades of navy blue, light to dark blues, and some burgundy-reds; Designs are large checkerboard style rectangular layout, and obtusely angled geometric shapes drawn in black borders; large (7-8 inches / 17.78-20.32 cm at longest side) medallions; medallions have a single framed flower, and half-mum flower patterns and stripes/plaids within; no sheen; same patterns on both sides.

NOTE: All designs result from a pixelated effect: tiny pixelated lines, dots, created in the weaving/dyeing process (please see closeups); selvage on both sides is .25 inch (6.35mm) fabric slightly stiff, minimal drape.

Recommended for making scarf/accessories.

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.