Pattern Book
8th century (made), 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Small album in a wooden and cardboard box tied with a blue and dark pink ribbed silk ribbon.
The album itself opens concertina-wise and the back and front boards are covered with blue self-patterned silk. Inside the album are pasted 29 very small fragments of embroidered, woven and resist-dyed silk from the Horyuji (a temple in Nara Prefecture).
In the lid of the wooden box is a painted Japanese inscription and this has been translated on a typewritten slip of paper as: ‘These textile fragments were purchased by my revered father at the Horyuji Temple in Meiji 20 (1887) and treasured by him. They are inherited by myself. Kenkichi Tomimoto.’
Written on the same slip in Bernard Leach’s handwriting is: ‘Very early Japanese fine weaving. These 8th cent. fragments were given to me 13.VI.71 as Tomimoto V. old friend from Ishida’. A handwritten label on the bottom of the box reads: ‘From Ishida (Tomimoto’s mistress)’ and then ‘G. Wingfield Digby’ in pencil.
The album itself opens concertina-wise and the back and front boards are covered with blue self-patterned silk. Inside the album are pasted 29 very small fragments of embroidered, woven and resist-dyed silk from the Horyuji (a temple in Nara Prefecture).
In the lid of the wooden box is a painted Japanese inscription and this has been translated on a typewritten slip of paper as: ‘These textile fragments were purchased by my revered father at the Horyuji Temple in Meiji 20 (1887) and treasured by him. They are inherited by myself. Kenkichi Tomimoto.’
Written on the same slip in Bernard Leach’s handwriting is: ‘Very early Japanese fine weaving. These 8th cent. fragments were given to me 13.VI.71 as Tomimoto V. old friend from Ishida’. A handwritten label on the bottom of the box reads: ‘From Ishida (Tomimoto’s mistress)’ and then ‘G. Wingfield Digby’ in pencil.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Woven, embroidered and resist dyed fragments of silk |
| Brief description | Album of textile fragments, album containing embroidered, woven and resist-dyed silk fragments, Japan, the fragments 8th century, the album 19th century |
| Physical description | Small album in a wooden and cardboard box tied with a blue and dark pink ribbed silk ribbon. The album itself opens concertina-wise and the back and front boards are covered with blue self-patterned silk. Inside the album are pasted 29 very small fragments of embroidered, woven and resist-dyed silk from the Horyuji (a temple in Nara Prefecture). In the lid of the wooden box is a painted Japanese inscription and this has been translated on a typewritten slip of paper as: ‘These textile fragments were purchased by my revered father at the Horyuji Temple in Meiji 20 (1887) and treasured by him. They are inherited by myself. Kenkichi Tomimoto.’ Written on the same slip in Bernard Leach’s handwriting is: ‘Very early Japanese fine weaving. These 8th cent. fragments were given to me 13.VI.71 as Tomimoto V. old friend from Ishida’. A handwritten label on the bottom of the box reads: ‘From Ishida (Tomimoto’s mistress)’ and then ‘G. Wingfield Digby’ in pencil. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Mr and Mrs G Wingfield Digby |
| Object history | Registered File number 1983/474. The album was given to the donor by the potter Bernard Leach. Kenchiki Tomimoto (1886-1963) was a potter and printmaker. |
| Historical context | For illustrations of similar but larger pieces of textile still in the Horyuji see Matsumoto Kaneo, Jodai-gire: 7th and 8th Century Textiles in Japan from the Shoso-in and Horyuji, Kyoto: Shikosha, 1984. NAL Bibliographic Ref. No.: 500.F.54 |
| Bibliographic reference | Simmons, Pauline, 'An Interim Report on Ancient Textile Collections in Japan' in Bulletin de Liaison du CIETA 15, 1963, p.22 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.149-1983 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
