UROBORO

FUROSHIKI CLOTH

Japan, Showa (circa 1950), cm 105x103.

Furoshiki were (and still are to some extent) wrapping cloths used when carrying small personal belongings, or to eventually wrap a gift to be presented.

They have usually plain ground and display a large family crest (komon) in the centre as an identification tool. This one, differently, shows a smaller pawlonia ‘komon’ on a corner and some kanji character opposite to it, dyed using the tsutsugaki technique.

The rich, dark green colour has been achieved by over-dyeing indigo with a yellow dye. Good condition with just a few small stains.

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Tapestry from a Japanese Temple.

Dated 1791

Japan, Kansei 4, 61x280cm each

These two fabrics were used in a Temple as tapestry.

They show a stunning dragon pattern, which is woven boldly, are made with silk, and lined with cotton.

From the text in the back side, we can know it is from Kansei 4 (1791 )- over 200 years ago!

There are many frays, discoloration and some stains. Especially one piece has large tears.

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Vintage Fabric from Shikoku Temple.

Japan, 32x190cm

This is a cotton fabric, which has the stamp of a temple in Shikoku. It seems to be sold at the temple for pilgrim of Shikoku (see here).

Textile is rather thin cotton.

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Tenugui Towel: Dancing Foxes *

ca. mid 20th century - 178 cm x 33 cm - Mounted on frame

This is a very odd textile showing a collision of motifs: most likely it was used in a tenugui towel making studio as a template for positiong stencils or the like. It is of a brown ground with overlay upon overlay of designs from several different tenugui towels. Not of the typically gauzy cotton typical of tenugui - this is slightly heavier - but the random patterning and the quoting from other works is extremely interesting and, in some ways, rare.

* No more in stock

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FUROSHIKI (2)

Japan, Showa (circa 1950), cm 67x65 each.

Two small cotton wrapping clothes decorated with an exotic pattern and an overall design of scrolling vines, respectively. They show how changed production of such textiles in post-WWII Japan. From hand-loomed to machine-woven cotton, and from plain ground colours with family crest to overall designs still within the Japanese tradition though. Decorated in classical Tsutsugaki technique. Excellent condition overall. Nice and decorative.

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* This is a wonderful antique cotton fabric pieces collection.
With detail check, most of all fabrics seem to be hand spun and woven in early Meiji period(1868-1912) or earlier.
Fabrics are pasted elaborately with sophisticated aesthetic feeling, and as a result it has fabulous artistic texture as photos show.
This piece is both Japanese antique fabrics sample and art work for interior decor.
*Fabrics are pasted on thick paper.
*We can reduce shipping cost if you order with other items ( To protect paper with thick padding, so the shipping cost is high if we send it alone.)
*This piece was made by an antique fabric collector
Cm 43x32

* No more in stock

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* A PAIR OF NOBORI BATA

JAPAN, MEIJI (1868-1912)
Mounted and stretched.
cm 143x31 each.

* No more in stock

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* Wool and silk temple cloth, Japan, Meiji (circa 1880), cm 104x105. This is an ‘uchishiki’, a cloth used to decorate altars in Buddhist temples. The origin of the uchishiki can be traced back to the lifetime of Shakyamuni Buddha.

During the Buddha's time a custom was established of spreading out fine pieces of cloth for the Buddha to sit on when preaching to his disciples and others assembled to hear him. The cloth would be spread out and the disciples would bow in reverence to the Buddha with their foreheads touching the cloth at his feet. It later came to decorate the altar tables of temples on special occasions of hearing the Buddha's teaching. The cloth we are offering here has a typical triangular shape. Unlike many others from same period, obtained by patching an antique fabrics, this was custom made by embroidering with silk and metal threads a plain wool cloth.

* No more in stock

This means it was a special and expensive offer from the devotee, as embroideries were done following a special drawing made by a skilled artisan for this occasion.

Here we can see two facing ‘tennyo’ (lit. ‘maiden from heaven’) amid a profusion of clouds on a red wool cloth. Its large size may suggest it was used on a main altar. There are little condition issues, such as little stains and tiny holes on the cloth, and some loose stitching, but this cannot detract from the intrinsic beauty of this very Japanese object. A lovely thing.

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This is a vintage fabric, which was a part of yogi (sleeping kimono).
It has bold bamboo circle pattern, which is dyed with fine kanoko dots.
It is dyed with natural ai, and has deep and beautiful navy color.
Textile is medium thick cotton, which seems to be hand spun and woven one.
It is from early Meiji period(1868-1912) or earlier.
It has a repaired tear below the bamboo motif(G).
It has some other flaws as photos show. The kamon part only has couple of stains, and as a whole it is in very good condition.
80 x 140cm (31 1/2 x 55 in.)

* No more in stock

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* Detail from a Japanese temple cloth – silk and gold threads. Dated 1847
(original size cm 284x101)

A vintage uchishiki, fabric for Buddhist altar.
This piece is from Kouka 4 (1847), which we can know from the text in the wrong side.
Gorgeous 'karabana'( imaginary Chinese flower) pattern is woven with gold threads ( old gold threads are stripes of gold paper) .
It is lined with cotton, which is painted with white gohun.

* No more in stock