Stencil Item Number: Ed5.3128 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
The rectangular stencil has a cut design of two iris motifs. Part of the design is still painted on, not cut out. Register points are located along the edges of the design. Two v-shaped notches are located along one long edge. Japanese characters along one short side.
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.
fabric printing
Iris: success, associated with the boy's festival in may.