Catalog#: 7796

1980's Arai Hari Cleaned Japanese Textiles:
Abstract-Modernistic Black w Red
  Ohshima Tsumugi Silk Kimono Fabric by Piece

Width:14 inches / 35.56 cm
Length: 47 inches / 119.38 cm

Fabric History/Pedigree:  1980s  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 

This  Ohshima tsumugi silk from Amami Islands, Japan. Details on this part of Japan's special pongee silk-making process can be found on the  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."...

Description:  This distinctive design Japanese vintage traditional Tsumugi is a lightweight solid black pongee-type silk designs in burgundy-red; the fabric is very slightly translucent (only with bright light behind), and designs same on both sides;

Motifs/Designs:  Very micro-pixelated designs are rather unusual, sort of brush-stroked look in places, we're unsure of any traditional motif this might be drawn from; we do note the curling vines, and the  apparent partial corner of rectangular form, with geometric objects along the corner lines; frankly, we've never seen the likes of this one so leave the interpretation to others.

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