Stencil Item Number: Ed5.2980 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
The rectangular stencil has a cut design of two carps and two boxes carved with a leaf motif and tied with string. There are four register points along one edge.
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.
Carp: perseverance, associated with boys festivals
fabric printing