Hand-Printed Tenugui Towel - Tree Collection

Nakagawa 1716 Verified independent store

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This tenugui (hand towel) features a design based on the ukiyo-e woodblock print 'Jumoku-zukushi' (Tree Collection) from the Edo to Meiji periods. 'Jumoku-zukushi' was a type of 'o mocha-e' (toy picture) within ukiyo-e prints specifically created for children. These prints were used for cutting out and arranging to create paper gardens, or for learning plant names. The elaborately designed pots with their various colours and patterns reveal the love of gardening among people of that era. This tenugui is crafted using the 'te-nassen' technique, where separate stencils are created for each colour during the dyeing process. Since the dye is pressed onto the fabric from above, the material has distinct front and back sides, allowing for the expression of intricate and detailed patterns. As artisans apply the colours by hand, the finished product has a warmth that cannot be achieved by machine printing. Show more