{"product_id":"a-length-of-wasarasa-indian-inspired-figured-cotton","title":"A Length of Wasarasa: Indian-Inspired Figured Cotton","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e39 1\/4\" x 14\", 99.5 cm x 35.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThroughout centuries of Japan's history the upper classes admired and collected Indian trade cloth which they referred to as\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003esarasa\u003c\/em\u003e. Some of it was commissioned directly from India, specifying certain patterns and colors while other pieces were purchased directly from India and were dyed in traditional Indian patterns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Japanese admired\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003esarasa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eso much that they started making\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etheir own cloth that suggested the original.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn the early twentieth century cloth of Japanese manufacture that was evocative of Indian trade cloth--but more in keeping with Japanese taste--became popular. However it was designed in different patterns and in different colors than the Indian inspiration.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis piece is an example a vaguely Indian inspired cotton cloth of Japanese manufacture. It is referred to as\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ewa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(Japanese)\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003esarasa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(Indian cloth).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe background is a grey tone and on it we see a repeat pattern of loosely rendered and colored images, they are so loosely rendered and filled in with color that they are hard to discern. What seems to be depicted are masks, mallets, arms, money bags and perhaps tea ceremony implements and Buddhist symbols. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTrue to the spirit of Indian trade cloth the images are filled in rather freely and there is a good amount of deep red color used: the madder dye in Indian textiles was appealing to the Japanese whose own arsenal of dyes made making a true red not very easy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is a charming and interesting length of cloth that reflects something large about Japanese textile history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44842893377614,"sku":"qzf1794065875538","price":53.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0739\/2935\/9438\/files\/a-length-of-wasarasa-indian-inspired-figured-cotton_1.jpg?v=1794065880","url":"https:\/\/modalsoftfit.shop\/products\/a-length-of-wasarasa-indian-inspired-figured-cotton","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}