Stencil Item Number: Ed5.2965 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

The light brown rectangular stencil has a cut design of three iris motifs one below the other. Top and bottom motifs have two blossoms and the middle motif has three blossoms.

History Of Use

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.

Iconographic Meaning

Iris: success, associated with boy's festival.

Cultural Context

fabric printing