Sri Threads

Mame Shibori

Stephen — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:30:06 +0000

In Japan it seems that everybody’s in love with mame shibori–I know I am, too. Mame is “beans”–like edamame. Of course you can see why this style of pleated shibori is called “beans shibori.”Shown here is a contemporary, hand-dyed tenugui–the unfinished, simple cotton towel that is multi-purposed. Just two days ago when I was at the wonderful Kyoto-style Brooklyn izakaya, Hibino, all the cooks were wearing tenugui tied around their heads, which is a Japanese custom. I bought this mame shibori tenugui at a well-known Kyoto shop called Sou-Sou, which specializes in gorgeous patterned tenugui, clothing, tabi, bags and shoes–some of the clothing being hand dyed shibori from Arimatsu, as was this mame shibori tenugui. Mame shibori tenugui are routinely out of stock at Sou-Sou. There’s just too much demand for them.Have a look at the very quick clip below which shows the voila! moment of mame shibori being unveiled at an Arimatsu dyer (clip courtesy of the aforementioned Sou-Sou).

Late Edo Period Lacquer Bowls: Aizu Lacquerware

Stephen — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:29:28 +0000

On my recent trip to Japan I found these wonderful lacquer bowls dating from the late Edo period, roughly around 1860. They are from Aizu, which is now in present-day Fukushima Prefecture, and although Aizu has a famously long history of producing lacquer work, these are not the perfectly finished lacquer of, say, Wajima, but rather they have a more provincial appeal.The slightly rough handling of lacquer work is what I like about these–as well as the full, rich images which seem to be plum blossoms. Each of these lidded bowls has a bit of repair, mostly around the lip of the bowl, and in keeping with the slightly imperfect spirit of these beauties, each of the lids is not a perfect fit to the bowl.From this website, here’s a very condensed synopsis of the history of Aizu lacquerware:

It was the planting of lacquer trees promoted by a powerful local family during the Muromachi period (1392-1573) that led to the making of Aizu lacquer ware. Then, when Gamo Ujisato who hailed from present-day Shiga Prefecture arrived to head the Aizu clan in the Momoyama period (1573-1600), he brought skilled lacquerers to this northern region from Shiga. Their skills were disseminated and as a result of fostering the development of techniques in crafts using lacquer, Aizu soon became a production center for all kinds of lacquer ware.
Later, specialist maki-e decorators were brought in from Kyoto and the steady development of lacquer craft here resulted in special permission to export Aizu lacquer ware being granted by the Shogunate in the middle of the Edo period (1600-1868). Production suffered around the unsettled period of the Meiji Restoration in 1868 but work soon returned to normal and heralded a golden age.

The various techniques employed and decorations using auspicious motifs favored by the Japanese are part of the delight of Aizu lacquer ware. Several techniques are of particular note. One called tetsusabi-nuri is decorated with tasteful motifs drawn in a rusty brown. Then there is kinmushikui-nuri which sports a pattern achieved by sprinkling rice husks over the wet surface of a piece of work. With kijiro-nuri the beauty of the grain of the wooden carcass is allowed to show through. Each technique is intelligently employed in the making of bowls, traditional stacking boxes, coasters and trays. Today, 38 government recognized Master Craftsmen head 3,000 people employed by the 311 firms privileged to be making this distinctive lacquer ware.

I’ll be offering these bowls on the webshop, but if you are interested in purchasing any, please send me an email: stephen(at)srithreads(dot)com

Each of the bowls, as shown, measures 3 7/8″ x 3 7/8″ or 9.75 cm x 9.75 cm.

Sri at Biwa Restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Stephen — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:56:51 +0000

I’m really happy to be showing Japanese folk textiles with Kina and Gabe at their marvelous Japanese restaurant, Biwa, in Portland, Oregon.

The exhibition opens today and runs through July. I’ve chosen a diverse but tight group of excellent antique and vintage country textiles which will be on display in the restaurant and are for sale.

Those of you in the Portland area please do plan a trip to Biwa, for the the delicious food and sake, for the great ambiance and considerate service–and to drink in the display of old cloth from yours truly.

A Magnificently Beautiful 18th Century Ramie Boro: Formal Kimono

Stephen — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:45:13 +0000

This fragile, delicate and beautiful boro cloth is hand stitched from elegant, hand decorated 18th century kimono pieces. The kimono, which once belonged to a woman of means, is made from indigo dyed, hand-plied ramie cloth.The ramie is extremely finely woven from hair-thin yarns. It is almost silky in the hand. As a kimono it was probably unlined.The decorations are resisted; the hand applied color which would have been very clear when first made is now faded away, leaving barely a trace.The cloth is soft and delicate–it flutters even in the most subtle breeze.

And on these photos you can see that the cloth is translucent.Most likely this cloth was fashioned as a futon cover; its small size suggests it was made for a child, but this would have been a pampered child who would have needed very good manners.

A Rustic Twined Bag: Cotton Covered Bast Fiber

Stephen — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:44:51 +0000

This is a beautifully rustic, hand twined bag–a kind of combination of a back pack/back pad. It is braided from bast fiber rope which is covered in cotton.This beauty is an acquisition from my recent trip to Japan so I am in the process of studying it. Imagine my surprise when I stuck my hand in this pouch and found a smashed box of safety matches, some dried leaves, a few pine needles and a carefully folded, hand made envelope (or sorts) made of newspaper–which is dated 1935. This heavily abraded bag measures 16″ x 15″ or 40 cm x 38 cm. It’s subtle–and beautiful. And even though there was an unexpected cache of contents in the bag, I wish I knew more about the owner what this bag was used for.

Skeins of Hand Spun Cotton: Tetsumugi Yarn

Stephen — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:41:11 +0000

When I was in Japan this past month I came across a number of skeins of hand spun cotton yarn and I bought about 15 skeins thinking I could find them good homes.I’m not sure where this cotton was grown or spun, but it’s really beautiful as it is. Each skein is about 8 1/2″, 21.5 cm long x 2″, 5 cm in diameter and weighs about 2 0z. or 56.5 grams.

An Intricately Pieced Silk Bell Pillow: Dated Taisho 12

Stephen — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:39:48 +0000

This round-shaped pillow is constructed from tiny pieces of a variety of naturally dyed and chemically dyed silks which have been pieced together in a spirited fashion, the piecing appearing almost like a rose.The pillow, nicely weighted with a filling of grain or grain husks, is from a Buddhist temple and it was used as a mount for a bowl-shaped brass bell. Around the circumference of the pillow is a pictorial, appliqued design of lotuses in a pond.This is a really lovely thing, and those of you who have visited Buddhist temples in Japan no doubt have seen textiles made in a similar fashion: often altar covers are fashioned in the same spirit, and often with donated, luxurious silks.The pillow dates to Taisho 12 or approximately 1924, however this technique of piece constructed fabric has a centuries-old history. The pillow measures 7″ tall by 12″ in diameter or 18 cm x 30.25 cm.

I love it.

New Offerings from my Trip to Japan: Plan a Visit

Stephen — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:43:10 +0000

All the new things I purchased on my trip to Japan are now ready to be seen–and there are a lot of interesting, new pieces to choose from.

I’ll start posting new items on the webshop each successive Wednesday morning, but feel free to call or email to make an appointment to stop by.

There’s a lot to see.

Seen in Kyoto

Stephen — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:18:18 +0000

This will be my last post from my trip to Japan this spring. On Wednesday, 4 April, I will be updating the webshop–and I’ll also be sending out orders that were placed during the last two weeks.

“Occupy Maruyama Park”: The First Flush of Sakura in Kyoto

Stephen — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:44:23 +0000

News flash! The cherry trees have just started blossoming within the city of Kyoto. Above is a photo taken in Gion, but those below were shot today at Maruyama Park. It’s been really cold in Kyoto, so these cherry blossoms were late in coming.
These sakura revelers sitting on tarps in Maruyama Park, above, looked a lot like the Occupy Wall Street groups–they’re just hanging out under the budding cherry trees, enjoying themselves, see the photo below for a better idea of how they’re going about enjoying themselves.

It’s good to know the sakura are now starting to bloom: people here were kind of worried about the lack of blossoms as they should been going strong by now. And as a lot of foreign tourists are now arriving, it would be a shame for them not to see the luscious and delicate beauty of sakura in full bloom. Lucky for them, they will.