Futon Cover
late 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The design on this bedding (futon) cover has been created using a technique called tsutsugaki, or ‘tube drawing’. In this method woven fabric is stretched on a frame of bamboo and a design drawn on the cloth with paste squeezed from a tube (tsutsu). The tube is made from paper treated with persimmon juice to make it water resistant; it has a nozzle of bamboo or metal through which the paste is extruded. The paste, made of rice flour, lime and water, forms a protective coating that prevents the colour penetrating when the cloth is dyed. Before the dye is applied, the surface of the fabric is brushed with soya bean liquid to seal the paste and help fix the dye. Once the dyed cloth is dry the rice paste is washed off. The process is repeated for the various shades of blue. The other colours are then brushed on.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | resist-dyed cotton |
| Brief description | Futon cover, cotton with freehand resist-dyed decoration, Japan, late 19th century |
| Physical description | Futon cover of indigo dyed cotton with freehand resist-dyed decoration (tsutsugaki) of roundels of 'takara', precious designs. Nine of the roundels contain floral motifs, one fish in water, two tiger-cats, six abstract medallions, one crane and one symbols of cash, all in shades of blue, gray and pink. The cover is contsructed of four loom widths of fabric. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | The design on this bedding (futon) cover has been created using a technique called tsutsugaki, or ‘tube drawing’. In this method woven fabric is stretched on a frame of bamboo and a design drawn on the cloth with paste squeezed from a tube (tsutsu). The tube is made from paper treated with persimmon juice to make it water resistant; it has a nozzle of bamboo or metal through which the paste is extruded. The paste, made of rice flour, lime and water, forms a protective coating that prevents the colour penetrating when the cloth is dyed. Before the dye is applied, the surface of the fabric is brushed with soya bean liquid to seal the paste and help fix the dye. Once the dyed cloth is dry the rice paste is washed off. The process is repeated for the various shades of blue. The other colours are then brushed on. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.199-1964 |
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| Record created | February 12, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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