Vintage Japanese Signed Katazome Stencil Dyed Crepe Silk Fabric Furoshiki

This is a Japanese fabric made of silk known as a furoshiki. A traditional part of the Japanese way of life, furoshiki are squares of fabric used for carrying, storing and wrapping things. They can be made of cotton, silk, nylon or rayon, but the finest are always made of silk. This furoshiki is made of chirimen (a crepe silk). The crepe gives it a distinctive crimpled appearance (see close up pictures 8 & 9). It is printed in an elaborate process known as katazuke. This process requires a separate stencil for each color and all stencils must be done individually in perfect register. On the reverse (see pictures 6 & 7) the bleed through of dyes can be seen. Signed with the artist's seal in the lower right (See picture 3).  It measures 18" square (46 cm).

Having been used lovingly for over 70 years, this fine silk furoshiki remains, with exception to minor signs of past use (see close up photos) in very good condition.