Stencil Item Number: Ed5.3113 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
The rectangular stencil has a cut design of a thistle and grass motif, with pairs of wavy lines. There are register points located along the edges of the design. Two v-notches are located along the lower edge of the stencil. Traces of Japanese script on the back and Japanese characters along one short side on the front.
The katazome method of dying fabric used a resist paste applied through a stencil; when the paste dried the stencil was removed and colour was applied by brush. The paste was then washed away leaving undyed areas to form pattern against coloured ground. Prior to the 16th century cut stencils were used to colour leather armour. However, during the Edo Period (1603-1868) the technique was developed as a true native craft.
fabric printing