SAGA-NISHIKI,EMBROIDERED FABRIC
"Saga-nishiki"is an embroidered beautiful fabric created about 190 years ago
(in about 1810) by the widowed wife of the Nabeshima Clan in Hizen-Kashima
Province in old Japan, who had got a hint from a split-bamboo ceiling.
She orderd her retainers to make into a woven stuff, a plaited brocade as called
at that time, and this fancy work was widely favoured among ladies of high rank
living then in the inner halls of the Nabeshima Clan.
In the early years of the Meiji era, this art was on the wane for a time, but it was
brought again into vogue among the aristocratic circles before long, and in addition
to the former twilled fabric, some fascinating woven figures rich in the beauties of
nature with flowers, birds, sceneries, etc. added to show up better were worked,
out through one improvement after one succeeded, and it was rechristened "Saga
-nishiki" as is accustomed to call at present.
"Saga-nishiki" is hand woven, time-honoured woven stuff of which texture is
specially embroidered paper gilded with gold, silver and Japanese lacquer to be
used as its warp, threaded with silk, as its woof that run crosswise.
This embroidered paper having approximately 3 centimeters is first devid ed into
20 cuts or up to about 60 ones at maximum, each interwoven with silk thread
which will be finer as the split paper thread becomes finer.
The warp is worked with silk woof at every other thread by combing each with
a bamboo-spatula and through elaborated unique technique the woven stuff is
formed beautiful known as plain fabric, twilled and figured ones, all requiring for
the finish very subtle and skilled technique.
Thus very high subtlety being required, a plenty of time is needed for completion.
Accordingly, while those capable of weaving, this article becomes fewer and fewer,
resulting, after all, in the enhanced value due to scarcity of the articles.
We believe that this Saga-nishiki fabric is the best one among all the Japanese
fancy works in its gorgeous and exquisite finish as well as in its remote genesis.