This listing is for a full bolt of traditional Japanese fabric intended to be made into a fukuro or semi-formal obi sash.  See below for more detail on its construction, patterning and traditional use.

Luxurious deep red silk combines with silver and gold to create large, stylized butterflies. These butterflies are a bit abstract, with V-shaped wings extending past the salvage edges. This placement is a nod to the Japanese yugen aesthetic of "imagined beauty", where only part of an image is visible, leaving observers to complete the picture in their minds, which draws them into the artwork even more.

Trailing threads from the weaving process are exposed on the back.

This full bolt is 5 yards long with alternating solid and patterned sections: 45 inches of solid green which would be sewn as the back of the obi, then 92 inches of the repeated scene, then 35 inches of more solid green that would be hidden as an underlayer when the obi was wrapped. At the very end is another 14 inches of pattern that would be part of the bow when tied.  

The fabric is a thick weave that is both pliable and sturdy – perfect for being tied into an elaborate bow at the back of a kimono, and just a perfect as table or wall décor. Plenty of fabric to convert into home décor (pillows!) or an elegant jacket or coat…?