Ise-Katagami - A Personal Collection: March 2007

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Interlocking Circles

Interlocking Circles
Itiore Reinforcement
Meiji Period
c. 1868-1912

Interlocking Circles
Detail

Note: This Katagami has been trimmed at the bottom.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Ivy Crest

Ivy Crest
Meiji Period
c. 1868-1912
Itoire Reinforcement

Ivy Crest Detail

Pine Needles

Katagami Pine Needles
Unused
Meiji Period (?)

Pine Needle Detail
Reverse side

*Note: This is an unused katagami which seems to have been carved from a used peice of paper. The paper is quite thin and delicate. I have detailed the reverse to showcase the inscriptions on the back.

7 Treasures (shippō)

Katagami 7 Treasures (shippō)
Taisho/Showa Period

c. 1912-
Shabari Silk Reinforcement

7 Treasures Detail

Note:

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Hanabashi

Hanabashi (Floral Lozenge)

Taisho/Showa Period

Hanabashi Detail

Shabari Reinforcement

Music Book and Bachi

Taisho Period

c. 1912-1926

Kimono Stencil

Music Book and Bachi Detail

No Silk Reinforcement

With the help of Nancy at Kyoto Kimono and her friend Junko in Japan, we know a little about the "story" of this stencil as well as the lettering on the "Music Book"...It reads down from the top, and each symbol has a vowel-consonant combination sound:
Tsu
Ru
Ka
Me

Tsuru means crane and kame means turtle, which are two very strong symbols in Japanese lore and customs for long life and happiness. And the triangular image in front of the lower book is indeed a shamisen pick (called a bachi), so she felt that the books were musical books on how to play. The image that is divided between the top and bottom of the stencil seems to be a wooden music stand (which goes on the floor in front of the player, too).

Thanks Nancy!