7787: 1980s Japanese Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk, Arai-Hari 63in. Piece

Catalog#: 7787

1980's Arai Hari Cleaned Japanese Textiles:

  Tsumugi Silk Kimono Fabric by Piece

Width:14.5 inches / 36.83 cm
Length: 63 inches / 160.02 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  John  Marshall, expert on Japanese textiles  HERE .)
  
  
• Description:  This distinctive Japanese vintage traditional Tsumugi is a lightweight pongee-type silk that is made from lavender-gray, tans, dark browns, dark grays - all dark to lighter pastel hues; the fabric is very slightly translucent (only with bright light behind), and designs same on both sides;
  
  Motifs/Designs:  Pixelated lines show a diagonally oriented grid of 2 inches /5.08cm rhombic (4-sides) diamond shapes in a symmetrical fashion, though border lines of all the diamonds have slight zig-zag paths; Inside each diamond element are many nature and geometric designs, albeit stylized and not readily apparent on first glance; fabric is smooth to the touch but not a satiny feel; as part of the tsumugi process all designs are the result of a pixelated effect, tiny pixels created in the weaving process (please see closeups); minimal sheen; selvage on both sides is about 3/8th(.375)inch / 9.53mm.
  
  
• 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

Cultural Background Note:  From www.nippon-kichi.jp:  Tsumugi are silk textiles woven by hand using thread collected from the floss of the cocoons. The floss is made from debris of the cocoons and spun by hand into thread. Because the thread is called “tetsumugi ito” or “ tsumugi ito”, the textile made from the thread became to be known as tsumugi. Tsumugi is characterized by its unique texture and dull gloss coming from subtle variations of the tsumugi threads. It is extremely durable and has been used for everyday clothes and working clothes since ancient times.... To read the rest of this page and learn more about tsumugi, please  visit: www.nippon-kichi.jp Below: Hand-made purse using 1930's Doro Ohshima tsumugi silk, made by Fumi Sakanashi, YokoDana KImono's owner's sister, an award-winning quilter in Japan. The Doro Ohshima (mud-dyed) is the center patterned portion on both sides, with the solid areas and handles being new; shown in pictures below:

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