78031: 1960s Japanese Tsumugi (Pongee) Silk, Arai-Hari 56in. Piece Pongee

Catalog#: 7803-1

1960's Arai Hari Cleaned Japanese Textiles:

  Tsumugi Silk Kimono Fabric by Piece

Width:14.75 inches / 37.47 cm
Length: 56 inches / 142.24 cm

US$17.00 Per Piece
Plus Shipping

• Fabric History/Pedigree:  1960s  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 dark brown (Hershey Brown) background fabric; Designs are interwove in shades of rusty red and pale pastel light-aqua blue(almost white); the motif is of  stylized floral elements: in each center is single flower with curlicue vines; each element is is around 6 inches / 15.24 cm at widest;  these elements are placed randomly.
  
  The fabric is very slightly translucent (only with bright light behind), and designs same on both sides; fabric is slightly textured to the touch  no sheen;
  
  NOTE: As part of the tsumugi process, all designs are the result of a pixelated effect, tiny  single pixels lines (weft) 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 explanation 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: