A Shirakage Shibori Tenugui: Tortoiseshell Pattern

late nineteenth, early twentieth century12 1/4" x 35 1/2", 31 cm x 90 cm This is a tenugui or a traditional cotton hand towel that is ubiquitous in Japan. This one is special because unlike most tenugui which are stencil dyed this one is dyed in beautifully-done shirakage shibori, a difficult-to-master technique which gives a blue-on-white effect. A tenugui is a traditional cotton hand towel that is ubiquitous in Japan because of its many uses.  It can be used to mop sweat from a brow in summer; it can be worn on the head, kerchief-like, while working; it can be twisted and worn as a sweat band like sushi chefs do: there are endless ways to use a tenugui. Sometimes these lengths of cotton are used by stores as a give away, sometimes as gifts at new year, other time for store promotions.  Sometimes tenugui are brought back from trips as souvenirs if they are imprinted with a specialized image specific to certain region or town. No matter its origin or original purpose this is a very han