Large Antique Japanese Temple Cloth

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Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Textiles: Pre 1920: Item # 624678

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Asian Art By Kyoko
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Large Japanese temple cloth woven with cotton and strips of paper, great for a wall decoration. The dimensions are 107" x 47" (271.8cm x 119.4cm). Many things in Japan were made from paper, just like soy sauce was added in almost all cooking. Textiles were no exception. Some monks in Japan still make their own paper for their clothes. There are few beautiful samurai haori jackets made out of paper that still exist today in textile museums (which we have only seen in photos). The paper made haori jackets were a fashion trend among the wealthy merchants during the Taisho period. Though most of them did not survive, they were supposed to be painted with various designs, probably some very interesting ones.

There are a couple of burn marks with candle wax stains (large one shown in the photo #9). The location of the large burn is approx. 15 inches from the top in the center. The other burn(s) is very small and difficult to find. Once this fabric is hung on a wall, they will be very difficult to spot. Soft colors and clean (with old water stains on liner - creamy color). The cut out papers are probably coated with *kakishibu.

*Made from the fermented juice of unripe persimmons. The color comes from tannin molecules linking together and forming a coating. Kakishibu is more than a coloring agent; it also has strengthening, antibacterial and waterproofing properties. Kakishibu was used in China and Korea, but reached its ultimate utilization in Japan. It was used as a wood preservative, waterproof, insect repellent, folk medicine, on washi (Japanese paper), fans, parasols, clothing and in sake production - www.kakishibu.com