7796:1980s Japanese Ohshima Tsumugi Silk,AraiHari 47in. Modern-Abstract

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 cmLength: 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  John  Marshall, expert on Japanese textiles  HERE .) 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 National Foundation for Promoting the National Costume of Japan  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  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