Indigo Dye Appraisal

Indigo Resist-Dyed and Hand-Stitched Textile

This item is a flat, square-shaped textile piece, possibly a wall hanging or cushion cover, featuring a deep indigo blue background with resist-dyed patterns. The principal pattern consists of eleven cream-colored, elongated oval or 'pod-like' shapes arranged in three columns. Each shape appears to be formed by multiple smaller, segmented resist areas, giving them a textured, almost speckled appearance. The dark blue field shows variations in color saturation, typical of natural indigo dyeing processes, with some areas appearing slightly lighter or mottled. The entire perimeter of the textile is finished with a rustic whip stitch or blanket stitch in a contrasting light-colored thread, likely a natural fiber such as raffia or undyed cotton string. This stitching is clearly hand-done, contributing to the artisanal quality of the piece. Additionally, there are sections of visible hand-stitching within the main field, particularly forming thin, linear, rectangular frames around the patterned areas. These stitches are also in a light-colored thread, some appearing as small, individual dashes and others forming longer, more continuous lines. The visible stitching suggests a patched or quilted construction, or perhaps decorative repair (sashiko-style mending). The textile exhibits a soft, somewhat wrinkled texture, indicating its age and usage. There are no obvious signs of major damage like tears or holes, but the overall patina suggests a vintage or antique origin. The craftsmanship, particularly the hand-dyeing and stitching, points to a traditional, possibly folk art, approach to textile creation. The geometric arrangement of the resist-dyed motifs combined with the visible hand-stitching suggests a piece from a culture with a rich history of textile production and repair, likely from Asia or Africa.