Stencil Item Number: Ed5.3121 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
The rectangular stencil has a cut of five thistles: three with centres, two in outer profile only. One register mark is located in each quadrant. Two notches are located in the bottom right corner. Traces of Japanese over the front face and a line of large Japanese script on reverse 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
Thistle: associated with low ranking officials.