6562: 1970's Japanese Pongee Silk Ohshima Tsumugi, 1 yard

6562: 1970s Ohshima Tsumugi Silk, close1

Catalog# 6562

1970s Deadstock Rare Japanese Textiles:

Ohshima Tsumugi (pongee) Silk Fabric

Width:14.5 inches / 36.83 cm
Length: 1 yard / 91.44 cm

US$10.00 per yard

Item Details and Description

Fabric History/Pedigree: Partial roll with maker's mark and label, 1970's deadstock fabric received from an Arai Hari (special Japanese kimono cleaner -- see info on Arai-Hari HERE from John Marshall, expert on Japanese textiles .)

This is a lightweight deadstock Ohshima tsumugi silk (new but unsold stock) from Amami Ohshima, 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:

The design is the same on both sides, solid but with pixelated grid upon close inspection, due to the nature of the weave and dyeing; fabric color is black with a hint of navy-blue; looks black in low light.

Condition: EXCELLENT,