7738: 1960's Japanese Pongee Silk Iro-Ohshima Tsumugi,59" Dk Red,Arai-Hari

Rare Japanese Textiles:

1960's Ohshima Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk Fabric
Arai-Hari
Seldom-seen Red Iro-Ohshima Tsumugi

Catalog# 7738

Width:14 inches / 35.56cm
Length: 59 inches / 149.86 cm

US$20.00 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 HERE .

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:

Thin fabric, slightly translucent Oshima Tsumugi silk with designs the same on both sides; Background color is dark red, with some dark mustard, and pinks giving this an overall sense of a subdued, ruddy-red; This intricate motif is distinctive and is a melange of several classic Japanese Chrysanthemums -- larger and smaller; some mums are daisy-mums set within crest-like (mon) circles; There are also curlicue lines; very slight sheen to this slightly stiff fabric; little drape; same on both sides.

NOTE: All designs of this fabric are the result of a pixelated effect, tiny pixelated lines created in the weaving/dyeing process; selvage on both sides is .25 inch (6.35mm); 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.