Otsuzure Donza

Late 19th Century
Late 19th-century Japanese otsuzure donza monk’s robe made of wisteria fiber, paper, and cotton,...
Back of late 19th-century Japanese otsuzure donza monk’s robe made of wisteria fiber, paper, and...
Detail of the front right sleeve of a late 19th-century Japanese otsuzure donza monk’s robe, made...
Detail of the back left sleeve of a late 19th-century Japanese otsuzure donza monk’s robe, made...
Artist unknown

Otsuzure Donza

Late 19th Century

  • Wisteria, Paper, Cotton

  • Category
    Textile
  • Dimensions
    h 45" x w 48"
  • Region
    Japan
  • Description

    This late 19th-century otsuzure donza from present-day northern Niigata Prefecture is an exceptional example of one of Japan’s rarest folk textiles. Otsuzure cloth is distinguished by its thick, heavy construction, woven with a wisteria yarn warp and a weft of paper-wrapped wisteria yarn—a highly specialized and labor-intensive process requiring considerable skill and time. Because so little otsuzure was produced compared to other regional textiles, and due to the difficulty of preparing its complex yarns, surviving examples are exceedingly scarce.

    This indigo-dyed donza is notable for its generous scale and dense, tactile surface, which bears ingrained wear patterns that speak to decades of sustained use. Subtle variations in tone, visible seams, and softened edges attest to both the durability of the material and the lived history of the garment, embodying the austere beauty and resilience central to Japanese vernacular textiles.

  • Exhibitions

    • Aesthetic Eyes of Morita Tadashi, Koriyama City Museum, Fukushima Prefecture, JAPAN

  • Photo Credit
    James Lane
Related Artworks
Early 20th-century Japanese kamiko kimono made of layered washi paper, undyed and naturally toned,...
Artist unknown
Kamiko Kimono, Early 20th Century
Late 19th-century okusozakkuri garment made of hemp and cotton, featuring a simple rectangular...
Artist unknown
Okusozakkuri, Late 19th Century
Mid-19th-century Ainu attush robe made of woven elm bark fiber, displayed frontally on a stand,...
Artist unknown
Attush, Mid-nineteenth century
Late 19th–early 20th century bashōfu kimono woven from banana fiber and cotton, dyed with safflower,...
Artist unknown
Bashōfu Kimono, Late 19th/Early 20th Century
Early 20th-century Japanese kamiko kimono made of layered washi paper, undyed and naturally toned,...
Artist unknown
Kamiko Kimono, Early 20th Century
Late 19th-century okusozakkuri garment made of hemp and cotton, featuring a simple rectangular...
Artist unknown
Okusozakkuri, Late 19th Century
Mid-19th-century Ainu attush robe made of woven elm bark fiber, displayed frontally on a stand,...
Artist unknown
Attush, Mid-nineteenth century
Late 19th–early 20th century bashōfu kimono woven from banana fiber and cotton, dyed with safflower,...
Artist unknown
Bashōfu Kimono, Late 19th/Early 20th Century