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.
Stylised flowers with ribbons.
16 x 9 1/2 in; 41 x 24 cm
Two slight breaks on one of the flowers in the circle, and the ribbon also has a break. This 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.
All images and text © meg-andrews.com 2021
