is the
Japanese craft
Traditional in Japan have a long tradition and history. Included in the category of traditional crafts are handicrafts produced by an individual or a group, as well as work produced by independent studio artists working with traditional craft m ...
of making paper
stencils
Stencilling produces an image or pattern on a surface, by applying pigment to a surface through an intermediate object, with designed holes in the intermediate object, to create a pattern or image on a surface, by allowing the pigment to reach ...
for
dyeing
Dyeing is the application of dyes or pigments on textile materials such as fibers, yarns, and fabrics with the goal of achieving color with desired color fastness. Dyeing is normally done in a special solution containing dyes and particular ...
textiles
Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...
(). It is designated one of the
Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Japan. The art is traditionally centered on the city of
Suzuka in
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Mie Prefecture has a population of 1,781,948 () and has a geographic area of . Mie Prefecture is bordered by Gifu Prefecture to the north, Shiga Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture to ...
. It is different from , though both are made in Mie Prefecture.
Description
Multiple layers of thin paper are bonded with a glue extracted from
persimmon
The persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus ''Diospyros''. The most widely cultivated of these is the Oriental persimmon, ''Diospyros kaki'' ''Diospyros'' is in the family Ebenaceae, and a number of non-pers ...
, which makes a strong flexible brown coloured paper. The designs can be extremely intricate, and consequently fragile. Nowadays the stencils are sometimes sold as artwork, attached to hand fans, or used to decorate screens and doors in Japanese rooms. For
kimono
The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. The kimono ...
printing the stencils are stabilized by attaching them to a fine silk net. In past times, human hair was used instead of silk, but silk is less likely to warp and can be finer.
Technique
Three sheets of or Japanese paper are
pasted together with ,
tannin
Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.
The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'', ...
-rich
persimmon
The persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus ''Diospyros''. The most widely cultivated of these is the Oriental persimmon, ''Diospyros kaki'' ''Diospyros'' is in the family Ebenaceae, and a number of non-pers ...
juice.
The pattern is excised using a variety of tools known as .
Four principal cutting techniques are used:
# Pulling the knife towards the artist, which results in long straight cuts.
# Carving patterns, which allows for figurative designs.
# Cutting circular holes, often in fan-like designs
# Using shaped punches.
The stencils are then used for
resist dyeing
Resist dyeing (resist-dyeing) is a traditional method of dyeing textiles with patterns. Methods are used to "resist" or prevent the dye from reaching all the cloth, thereby creating a pattern and ground. The most common forms use wax, some type ...
.
Rice paste is passed through the stencil onto silk. When dyed, the color does not adhere to the areas with rice paste. By multiple alignments of the stencil, large areas can be patterned. This technique was developed in France as
silk screen
Screen printing is a printing technique where a mesh is used to transfer ink (or dye) onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee is moved across the screen to fill the open me ...
printing. The stencil is not generally used for more than one kimono, though multiple stencils can be cut at the same time.
History
The use of stencils was known by the
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the cap ...
, as is evident from objects in the .
Later paper stencils developed alongside kimono.
The technique is known as since towns in
Ise Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today includes most of modern Mie Prefecture. Ise bordered on Iga, Kii, Mino, Ōmi, Owari, Shima, and Yamato Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was .
History
The name of Ise appears ...
, now
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Mie Prefecture has a population of 1,781,948 () and has a geographic area of . Mie Prefecture is bordered by Gifu Prefecture to the north, Shiga Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture to ...
, were historic centres of the craft.
Production is now primarily localised around the town of
Suzuka.
Conservation
Former practitioners (1883–1968), (1907–1973), (1894–1976), (1902–1985), (1909–1992), and (1917–2003) were recognized as . The was founded in 1992.
was designated an in 1993. The
Ise-Katagami Stencil Museum in
Suzuka opened in 1997.
Collections
* The
Museum of Applied Arts Vienna (MAK) has more than 8,000 examples of in its collection, which inspired artists from the
Wiener Werkstätte
The Wiener Werkstätte (engl.: ''Vienna Workshop''), established in 1903 by the graphic designer and painter Koloman Moser, the architect Josef Hoffmann and the patron Fritz Waerndorfer, was a productive association in Vienna, Austria that bro ...
such as
Josef Hoffmann
Josef Hoffmann (15 December 1870 – 7 May 1956) was an Austrian- Moravian architect and designer. He was among the founders of Vienna Secession and co-establisher of the Wiener Werkstätte. His most famous architectural work is the Stoclet P ...
, among others. In 2018 more than 600 examples of with detailed data sheets were published in the online database of the MAK.
* The
Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture
The Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture (MoDA) is a museum in North London, England, housing one of the most comprehensive collections of 19th- and 20th-century decorative arts for the home. The collection is designated as being of outstan ...
,
Middlesex University
Middlesex University London (legally Middlesex University and abbreviated MDX) is a public research university in Hendon, northwest London, England. The name of the university is taken from its location within the historic county boundaries ...
has around 400 examples of in its collection, which are part of the
Silver Studio
The Silver Studio was one of the most influential textile design studios in the UK from its formation in 1880 until the middle of the twentieth century.
The studio, founded by Arthur Silver (1853–1896) designed some of the most famous fabric, w ...
Collection. They were among the visual resources collected by
Arthur Silver
Arthur Silver (1853–1896) was a designer and founder of the Silver Studio. He was born in Reading in 1853. His grandfather had been in the cabinet-making business and his father, James Silver, was an upholsterer.
Education
In 1869 Arthur att ...
as inspiration for designs for wallpapers and textiles.
See also
*
*
Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Japan
*
National Treasures of Japan – Dyeing and Weaving
References
External links
{{Commons category-inline, Ise-katagami
Timeline (in Japanese)
Japanese paper
Japanese dyeing techniques
Textile patterns
Paper art
Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Japan
Culture in Mie Prefecture
Japanese words and phrases