Tsutsugaki Exhibition

Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.324. Yesterday we went to an exhibition of Tsutsugaki. One of famous tsutsugaki collector Entani san's collection is exhibited at Shosya Art & Craft Museum. Usually taking photos is not allowed in the museum, but at this exhibition, taking photos without using flash was allowed, so we could take some photos, and we are very happy to show them here.

As you may know, tsutsugaki is one of Japanese dyeing technique which uses rice paste resist. 'Tsutsu' means 'tube', and the design is drawn with a kind of 'tube' filled with rice paste. 'Tsutsu' means tube', and `gaki`(kaku) means to draw. The outline design is drawn with a kind of 'tube' filled with rice paste. You can imagine ptissier piping cream. After drawing the designs, textile is dipped into the ai many times, and background is dyed immediacy color with remaining the rice paste resisted parts white. Items at the exhibition are mainly from late Edo period(1603-1868) or Meiji period(1868-1912). In olden time, people made futon or yogi for their daughters and let them have when they were married. Rich families added especially gorgeous tsutsugaki design to show their affluence. Entani san's collection is selected from most gorgeous and artistic tsutsugaki work - please enjoy with these photos.

Yogi(sleeping kimono) with cheerful karako(Chinese cildren) and cherry blossom picture.

Yogi is padded heavily and used as same as futon like this picture. Yogi has phoenix and paulownia motifs, and futon cover on the wall has unique 'baku' motif - 'baku' is imaginary animal who is said to eat bad dream. Yogi had many interesting pattenrs- some were designs of figures they wanted to see in their dreams, and some had figures of protection from evels while they were asleep.

'Nami Usagi'(Rabbit and wave) is one of the most popular motif.

Dogs here do not seem Japanese ones and Cycad was not usually seen in most part of Japan, so the owner must have had a strong longing for other countries, or area in Japan, probably southern part.

This is a part of Umano-harakake(fabrics to put on horse back). Monkeys were often seen with umano-harakake for monkeys were thought to guard horses.

You can see three baby hawks waiting for ther parent to bring back a rabbit!

one of the auspicious motif - bent backs are symbol of longevity.

Information of Exhibition/Museum †

Shosya Art & Craft Museum
Address 671-2201　Shosha 1223, Himeji City, Hyogo prefecture
Tel 079-267-0301
Bus 25 minutes from JR Himejij

Exhibition 'Tsutsugaki ni miru Eto monyo'( Designs and pictures in Tsutsugaki)
http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/kougei/04kikaku-tenji/091031ai.html Till 23th Dec 2009

• Thank you, my fingers are itching to stitch up a reproduction design w/ this inspiration. -- Susan K? 2010-01-07 (Thu) 22:23:51
• Fantastic! Actually WEARING art - fantastic! -- Marianne? 2009-12-19 (Sat) 21:19:23
• Fantastic! Actualy -- Marianne? 2009-12-19 (Sat) 21:18:54
• These are absolutely amazing - thanks so much for sharing -- Jenny? 2009-12-09 (Wed) 19:29:03
• Fabulous, thank you once again for sharing. -- Susan Goldberg? 2009-12-06 (Sun) 22:25:52
• WOW! This is a fabulous gift to your customers! Having studies nori-zome, I appreciate the skill required to make such detailed renderings. Thank you so much for posting. -- Sylvia Loftus? 2009-12-06 (Sun) 22:15:22
• Thank you so much! Tsutsugaki is among my favorite styles!! Just like I got to be there. -- Val? 2009-12-06 (Sun) 18:47:01
• every your letter and 'a source of valuable information, very interesting. The beauty of these designs and the history of their development with the dough of rice leaves me without words and with such admiration! -- Rita? 2009-12-06 (Sun) 18:03:38
• These photos of absolutely BREATH-TAKING art work overwhelm ones senses. THANK YOU so much for sharing them with us. -- Deborah? 2009-12-06 (Sun) 17:38:06
• Breathtakingly beautiful national treasures!!! -- Wendy? 2009-12-06 (Sun) 16:50:37
• Just beautiful ! Thank you so much for sharing all your pictures. -- CAtherine McNally? 2009-12-06 (Sun) 16:13:34