katagami stencil featuring a design of three cranes, bunches of stylised flowers in front of a background of curved shapes

A Japanese katagami stencil featuring a design of three cranes, bunches of stylised flowers in front of a background of curved shapes. Cranes and pine are both regarded as auspicious for longevity. This is one of around 400 Japanese 'katagami' stencils which are part of the Silver Studio Collection. The stencils were produced in Japan as a way of applying patterns to fabric, mainly kimonos. The katagami collected by the Silver Studio all date from the 1860s and 70s, and were used by the Studio's designers as reference material via which to produce their own Japanese-inspired patterns.