A brown mulberry paper (kozo washi) stencil, reinforced with silk threads (itoire). The stencil is cut with a layered design of stylized birds, waves, and a lattice. The birds are roughly triangular in shape, with a suggestion of curved head and pointed beak. The tail end curves out, with two pointed feet trailing back. There are four birds in total, two birds in the upper half and a pair of birds in the lower half. The bird at upper left flies up; its interior space is completely cut away. The bird at upper center flies upside-down toward the lower left, its interior half-filled with a small dappled pattern, suggesting leaves or flowers. The birds below fly to the right, one flying slightly below and behind the other. This smaller, trailing bird is half-filled with a spiky pattern suggesting a spray of pine needles. The birds are layered over a sinuous wave pattern, with two roughy horizontal waves joining at upper left and continuing as one roughly vertical wave down to lower right. These curving lines are accented with finely cut spraying crests, edged in curling tendrils of foam. The crests curve out from the wave-lines, echoing their shape. The background is filled with a grid-like lattice, a contrast to the curving birds and waves. The lines are thicker than the thin, delicate lines of the birds and waves. The lattice lines vary in width and spacing, creating a plaid-like pattern.

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Object Timeline

1925	Work on this object ended.
1976	We acquired this object.
2013	We photographed this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2019	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Katagami, Waves and Chidori Birds on a Lattice

This is a Katagami. It is dated late 19th–early 20th century and we acquired it in 1976. Its medium is mulberry paper (kozo washi) treated with fermented persimmon tannin (kakishibu), and silk threads (itoire). It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This object was donated by Helen Snyder. It is credited Gift of Helen Snyder.

Its dimensions are

60.4 × 44 cm (23 3/4 × 17 5/16 in.) Mat: 71.1 × 55.9 cm (28 × 22 in.)

Cite this object as

Katagami, Waves and Chidori Birds on a Lattice; Japan; mulberry paper (kozo washi) treated with fermented persimmon tannin (kakishibu), and silk threads (itoire); 60.4 × 44 cm (23 3/4 × 17 5/16 in.) Mat: 71.1 × 55.9 cm (28 × 22 in.); Gift of Helen Snyder; 1976-103-270

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Katagami.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2CLrp/
Accession Number 1976-103-270
Object ID 18490017