7813: 1960s Deadstock Japanese Ohshima Tsumugi Pongee Silk, Asa-no-ha

Traditional Japanese Textiles:

1960's Deadstock Japanese Ohshima  Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk Fabric

Classic Asa-no-Ha (Hemp Leaf Design)

Catalog# 7813

Width:14.75 inches / 37.47 cm
Length: 62 inches / 157.48 cm

US$20.00 per piece

Item Details and Description

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:

Slightly stiff black with navy blue Tsumugi silk with designs the same on both sides: Motifs include -- a classic Asa no ha*  Japanese art motif (hemp leaf pattern, see cultural background below) in thin black lines; 1/2 (.5) inch / 12.7mm selvedge on both sides; Background fabric is pixelated light blue pixels interwoven evenly throughout; fabric is slightly translucent; Also, there is a very subtle iridescent hue in certain lighting; please see closeups.

*Asa-no-ha (hemp leaf): Patterns in Japanese Culture: See excellent explanation from Kateigaho Int'l Magazine(Japan) HERE.

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.