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Object Timeline

1972

  • We acquired this object.

2015

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2025

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Katagami, Flowers

This is a Katagami. It is dated late 18th - early 19th century and we acquired it in 1972. Its medium is mulberry paper (kozo washi) treated with fermented persimmon tannin (kakishibu). It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

Some of the earliest katagami designs are komon patterns—small, finely stenciled decoration that repeats across the surface of the stencil. Here, the tiny overlapping blossoms were created with a sharp semicircular tool, used to produce perfectly uniform dots. Although once reserved for formal silk kimono, in the Edo (1603–1868) and Meiji (1868–1912) periods, komon patterns became common on garments of all types.

This object was donated by Mrs. Isao Homma and Mr. and Mrs. S. Okajima. It is credited Gift of Isao Homma and Mr. and Mrs. S. Okajima in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Tatsugoro Okajima.

Its dimensions are

25.5 × 41.2 cm (10 1/16 × 16 1/4 in.) Mat: 35.5 × 45.8 cm (14 × 18 1/16 in.)

Cite this object as

Katagami, Flowers; mulberry paper (kozo washi) treated with fermented persimmon tannin (kakishibu); 25.5 × 41.2 cm (10 1/16 × 16 1/4 in.) Mat: 35.5 × 45.8 cm (14 × 18 1/16 in.); Gift of Isao Homma and Mr. and Mrs. S. Okajima in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Tatsugoro Okajima; 1972-74-1-b

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

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18478221/ |title=Katagami, Flowers |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=12 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>