A Tsutsugaki Futonji, 2nd half 19th century, Japan: created with free-hand rice-paste resist on indigo-dyed hand-woven cotton. Painted pigments. Four-panel construction. The pine is ever green, lives to be a thousand years old, and is the dwelling place of the gods. The crane and turtle frequently appear together in tsutsugaki textiles. The crane is known in Japan as a symbol of beauty. The stark contrast of black and white on it’s body, the bright red spot on its head, the delicacy of its form, and its elegant posture exemplify the Japanese taste for simplicity and serenity. By Heian times the crane was associated in art with longevity because of the belief that it lived a thousand years, and was also a symbol of good fortune. The turtle is a constant companion of the crane in story and in art. It was the carrier of precious things and a messenger of good omen, particularly the words of gods. On tsutsugaki textiles – as in the present case – the turtle design called ‘minogane’ (caped tortoise) is especially common: this design shows a type of turtle that carried exceptionally good fortune, with long ‘tails’ trailing behind in the water which represented attached seaweed attached to the shell. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 17 March 2013 • 14 notes
A small three-panel cotton futon cover featuring a large family crest over auspicious symbols of bamboo, cherry blossoms and pine. 1900-1920, Japan. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 17 March 2013 • 4 notes
Original design art for obi. Paint on thick paper. This original and unique artwork was created by a Japanese artist in the famous Nishijin district of Kyoto. Such artwork was utilized to transpose it’s design to a woven obi (wide traditional Japanese belt). Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 17 March 2013 • 14 notes
Detail of a silk kimono panel. 1950-1980, Japan. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 17 March 2013 • 13 notes
Detail of A Tsutsugaki Futonji created with free-hand rice-paste resist on indigo-dyed hand-woven cotton. 1868-1911, Japan. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 10 March 2013 • 29 notes
Detail of Nobori Bata banner. 1900-1920, Japan. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 10 March 2013 • 7 notes
Detail of silk kimono panel, 1950-1980, Japan. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 10 March 2013 • 3 notes
Paint on thick paper. This original and unique artwork was created by a Japanese artist in the famous Nishijin district of Kyoto. Such artwork was utilized to transpose it’s design to a woven obi (wide traditional Japanese belt). 1945-1965, Japan. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 10 March 2013 • 6 notes
Original Design art for obi. Paint on fabric, lined with paper. This original and unique artwork was created by a Japanese artist in the famous Nishijin district of Kyoto. Such artwork was utilized to transpose it’s design to a woven obi (wide traditional Japanese belt). 1945-1965, Japan. Yorke Antique Textiles
• 3 March 2013 • 20 notes
Detail of a stenciled design silk kimono panel. Mid-20th century, Japan. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 3 March 2013 • 3 notes
Buddhist altar uchishiki. Taisho period, 1912-1927, Japan. A couched-embroidered uchishiki featuring two prominent mons. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 3 March 2013 • 42 notes
A Japanese yuzen-dyed cushion which may have been originally taken from a panel from a 19th c kimono and converted during the 20th c. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 3 March 2013 • 1 note
Buddhist altar cloth, Meiji period, Japan. An unusual silk brocade uchishiki featuring three roundels and five auspicious five-color clouds. In Buddhism, five-color clouds symbolize the presence of Buddha. The material is silk backed with a white cotton. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 24 February 2013 • 37 notes
A Japanese noren (door-entrance curtain) created with an older center strip that features “kasuri” (double-ikat) work: the “Okami” (funny lady) motif is unusual. The two flanking indigo plain strips are not as old as the early-Showa central strip. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 24 February 2013 • 34 notes
Original Design art for obi. Paint on fabric, lined with paper. This original and unique artwork was created by a Japanese artist in the famous Nishijin district of Kyoto. Such artwork was utilized to transpose it’s design to a woven obi (wide traditional Japanese belt). 1945-1965, Japan. Yorke Antique Textiles
(Source: yorkeantiquetextiles.com)
• 24 February 2013 • 2 notes
