Nihon kuzakizome fu [Japanese plant dyeing manual] / Monograph of Plant-Dyeing Peculiar to Japan

YAMAZAKI (Akira).

Vibrant colours extracted from plants

First edition, no.31 of 500 copies, signed. Colour woodblock print, photograph and akane-kusa plant specimen, followed by 50 dyed thread samples and copious black and white photographic illustrations. Original indigo-dyed cloth and cream paper covered boards, gilt titling to upper and lower cover, original navy blue cloth covered chitsu titled in silver, occasional light foxing, a very good copy. 78pp. Kanagawa, Getsumei-kai Ltd, 1961.

£550

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YAMAZAKI (Akira).

Nihon kuzakizome fu [Japanese plant dyeing manual] / Monograph of Plant-Dyeing Peculiar to Japan

A book showcasing the remarkable range of colour dyes that can be extracted from plants native to Japan.

The history of kusaki-zome 'plant and tree dyes' in Japanese textiles dates back over a thousand years. Before the Meiji period, when chemical dyes became available in Japan, textile craftspeople used natural dyes. The cultivation and treatment of these plants – in some cases fermentation – is highly skilled work which is also very labour intensive. Few companies continue to do this today.

The present book wonderfully explains how each plant becomes a colour dye, with sample silk threads to show the colour that can be achieved. Owing to the nature of books, the samples are very vibrant as they have not been exposed to much light. The text and photographic images have been printed onto high quality, hand-made Japanese paper.

Scarce in commerce.

Stock No.

263459

Nihon kuzakizome fu [Japanese plant dyeing manual] / Monograph of Plant-Dyeing Peculiar to Japan

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