This is a fabulous tsume tsuzure maru obi from pre WWII.
Bold 'tsuru-maru'(circle crane) and 'karabana'( imaginary Chinese flower) pattern is woven with tsume tsuzure technique.
One threads by one threads, it was woven elaborately with nails, and it had to be taken incredibly long time to be completed. It has special kind of comfortable and medium touch of tsume tsuzure silk.
It has slight stains and patinas at places - most stains seem to be made by gold dyestuff of the pattern of itself.
Both ends are unpicked partly.
From figure, it seems to be very stained, but flaws are slight and it is still very beautiful piece.
*The wrong side is almost solid ivory ( only part of cloud pattern is seen partly )
*Approx background color - ivory
Softness ( Exceptionally Soft, □ Soft, Medium, Comparatively Stiff, Stiff )
photo:okazawa