Wazome washi [Japanese Dye; Japanese Paper]

YANAGI (Soetsu). & OIKAWA (Zenzo).

The magic of natural dyed paper

First edition, one 250 copies "not for sale", signed. 92 paper samples tipped in. 4to., measuring 255 by 196mm. Original brown cloth covered boards with lacquered paper title slip in yellow and red, housed in decorative paper covered chitsu case with ribbon ties around spine and kirigami (paper-cutting) title slip, worming to boards and marginally inside, a good copy. Tokyo, Kogei Henshu-shitsu, Showa 23 [i.e, 1948.

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YANAGI (Soetsu). & OIKAWA (Zenzo).

Wazome washi [Japanese Dye; Japanese Paper]

A beautifully produced book on the subtleties of naturally dyed, handmade Japanese papers. Only 250 copies were made, with a note in the colophon which reads "not for sale".

The author, Oikawa Zenzo (1892–1985) started his career as a teacher. It was when Yanagi Soetsu (1889–1961), theorist and founder of the Mingei Movement, encouraged him to pursue craft that he left his teaching life behind and took up natural dyeing. The year the present book was published, Oikawa became a member of the Kokuga-kai Mingei-bu, or the 'Artists' Association Mingei Division'. Much like Yanagi, Oikawa fervently believed in the importance of preserving regional crafts and continuation of their practices.

The present book contains a foreword by Yanagi, followed by a series of essays by Oikawa explaining different types of plant dyes. The 92 paper samples in the book perfectly illustrate the depth and varieties of what can be achieved.

The present copy is accompanied by a decorative chitsu case, which is covered in embossed brown paper with a kirigami (paper stencil) title, with unusual use of ribbon ties for the spine. It is unclear whether the case is original to the book or made later, as we have not found other examples with the case.

Very rare. Only 3 copies in OCLC listed outside of Japan (University of California, Newberry Library and National Library of Australia).

Stock No.

261200