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2. A Shonai Zanshi-ori Futon Cover Japan ca. late Nineteenth, early Twentieth century indigo dyed cotton and paper 66" x 41", 167.5 cm x 104 cm |
This three panel textile was most likely once a futon cover. The cloth is distinctive in its clear, blue color and its slubby texture; it was woven in or around Shonai in Japan's Yamagata prefecture, where their Shonai obis are notable for their cotton warp and paper weft. This cloth is of the zanshi-ori variety, meaning it was woven from left-over yarn collected from various unused spools; zanshi-ori is woven exclusively in homes for home use. The passages of textured, white-colored cloth are the result of weaving paper weft against a cotton warp; this three panel, beautifully-colored cloth is unusually lightweight due to its paper woven component. Zanshi-ori of this type, from Shonai, is rarely seen. Detail: close-up #1 Detail: close-up #2 |