‘bundou- tsunagi’ shibori cloth , Japan, Meiji (c.1880), 139x33cm. The common English translation of the Japanese word shibori is "tie-dye"; however, a more accurate translation is "shaped-resist dyeing," which describes the inherent patterning process of manipulating the two-dimensional cloth surface into three-dimensional shapes before compressing them to dye. Diverse shibori techniques are used to obtain different patterns, and sometimes they can be combined to obtain a certain result. Here we have a so-called bundou-tsunagi (weight chain) pattern masterfully obtained by the dyer. One has to bear in mind that it takes a great skill to result in a regular lattice design with this technique. In fact, most of the shibori cloths show a ‘casual’ overall display of patterns. a lovely thing in most cases, more easy to obtain though. Cotton looks to be hand-spun and hand-woven. Condition is good, with just a couple of tiny holes. Recommended.