[PAPERMAKING]
Katazome mon-shi shu [Collection of stencil-dyed patterned papers]
Large, vibrant sheets of patterned Japanese papers
A fine collection of katazome stencil-dyed papers, housed in a large portfolio case. The designs range from bold and abstract geometric patterns to more typical seasonal motifs. The use of colours and patterns are very vibrant and suggest a maker who was not bound by the tradition.
This appears to be a one-off collection, with no labels on the case or inside to indicate an edition or maker. The back of each mount bears a stamp which reads Tsuji zo-sho, i.e. ‘From the collection of Tsuji’. We have not been able to identify who this might have been, since Tsuji is a fairly common name in Japan. Though the album is undated, the patterns and colours indicate an Showa period maker, around the 1930s or 40s. We have handled a smaller, similar album of katazome papers from around this time.
