Shopping For Antique Textiles In Kyoto

This little bag was my favorite find of the day shopping for antique textiles in Kyoto, Japan. What is so interesting is the similarity of this delicate print to early block-printed cottons from India. These patterns were then appropriated by the French to become the much-loved “Indiennes”, and then by the English to become “Chintz” patterns. Somehow they then show up in Japanese resist-dye fabric. Antique textiles are a map of cultural crossings traced through pattern.

These pieces were all found at Chingireya, an incredible antique textile shop in the neighborhood called Ohto Antique Art District in Kyoto.

These are 19th century Katazome stencil-resist-dye fabics.

This one really reminds me of block prints from India because of the colorway.

It became impossible to process all the different patterns, so I had to take a few pictures to remember them all.

The ochre and blue colorway of this pattern seems so French to me. I wonder who inspired whom?