7605: 1980s Deadstock Japanese Pongee Silk Ohshima Tsumugi,55inches

Deadstock 1980's Ohshima Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk Fabric

Resembles Asa-No-Ha
Hemp Leaves Classic Motif

Catalog# 7605

Width:14.5 inches / 36.83 cm
Length: 55 inches / 139.8 cm

US$15.00 per piece
Plus Shipping

Item Details and Description

Fabric History/Pedigree: 1980s fabric from factory deadstock; certified as authentic Ohshima Tsumugi silk (factory label on the outer part of roll, shown in images; labels not included with fabric).

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 an indigo-blue/black, evocative of the classic "asa no ha" (Hemp leaves motif -- used for centuries in Japanese art/designs); The lines rendering the asa no ha-like pattern are a light blue-gray and there are red accents at various junctures; as is typical of Ohshima Tsumugi of this time, the patterns are rendered in using tiny pixelated micro-lines; The nature of the weave is such that the fabric has slight sheen; same on both sides.

Recommended for making scarf/accessories.

NOTE: All designs are the result of 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, some drape.

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.