Rare, unusual and interesting antique costumes and textiles; for museums and collectors looking for that extra special piece, for new and established collectors and for those with a modest budget who want to adorn their person or home.

Katagami Stencil
c 1900

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. Often used on kimono fabric which is then resist dyed using the stencil.



The use of stencils was first noted in the Nara period AD 710    Katagami stencils were being sold by Liberty's at the turn of the 20th century. They inspired artists, particularly those from the Wiener Werkstatte.



The Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture held a symposium: 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. They would look good framed.


Cataloguing

Small moons and dots in arc shapes, perhaps meant to be tree blossom.



16 x 10 in; 41 x 25 cm


Condition

Very good. It has ink markings to both sides and some writing in ink, presumably instructions. It has of course been used.



I show both sides of the stencil. The main side has the number of the lower right, and  the underside, lower left. 


Price: £75 | $100 | €90

Reduced to: £65 / $80

Ref N°: 8489/10