or Ise-katagami is the art of making stencils for fabric printing. The art is traditionally centered on the city of Suzuka in Mie Prefecture. Multiple layers of thin washi paper, often from the mulberry tree, are bonded with a glue extracted from persimmon, which makes a strong flexible brown coloured paper. The kimono fabric is then resist dyed using the stencil.
The use of stencils was first noted in the Nara period AD 710. Katagami stencils inspired artists from the Wiener Werkstatte at the turn of the 20th century.
The Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture held a symposium: Katagami in Practice. Japonisme in Design of similar stencils in April at the Asia House in Cavendish Street London W1,
These beautiful decorative designs could be used today for fabric or paper printing. They are amazing. I wonder how long it took to cut one.
Each measures 16 x 10 in; 41 x 25 cm
These have of course been used.
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