Asa Katazome textile panel, Japan, Meiji (circa 1890), cm88x32. Katazome is a resist dye technique in which a paste of rice flour and bran is applied to a cloth through a cut paper stencil (katagami). This paste is applied with a flat, blunt tool or a brush: where the paste has been pushed onto the cloth, dye will not penetrate. Dyes can be applied using an immersion method, by hand tinting, or by a combination of these applications, depending on the complexity of the desired effect. This katazome shows a repeated pattern of peony flowers and blossoms on a deep botanical indigo dyed ‘asa’ cloth. In Japanese, 'asa' is a common word used for three different plants, that is 'taima' (hemp), ‘karamushi’ (ramie) and ‘ama’ (linen). In our case we have an homespun linen cloth, with quite a crispy touch. There are a few very minor faults, such as tiny holes in the boundary zones, but the fabric is essentially in a very good condition. a rare find.