Japanese Design; Through Textile Patterns

The format is approximately 6 inches by 8.25 inches. 272 pages. Decorative cover. Illustrations (Black and White). Glossary. Slightly cocked. Signed with location (Tokyo) by the author on the title page. Photos in black and white used as stencil for printing Japanese fabrics. Authentic traditional fabric designs in motifs including water, sky abstract, flower, leaf, tree, garden and chrysanthemum patterns. Frances Blakemore (1906 1997; also published as Frances Baker and Frances Wismer) was an American-born artist, writer, curator, and art collector who spent more than 50 years of her life in Japan. In 1929 she exhibited a set of linoleum block prints at an exhibition of the Northwest Printmakers and won the Purchase Prize for her print, High Water at Moore's Point, Chelan. In 1940 she left Japan to avoid being interned, and spent WWII in Hawaii, working for the Office of War Information designing airborne leaflet propaganda for distribution in Japan She returned to Tokyo in 1946 and went to work for the Civil Information and Education (CI&E) Division of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) during the occupation of Japan, designing brochures and posters to promote the reconstruction project. In 1954 she married Thomas Blakemore, an American-born corporate lawyer. She and her husband founded the Franell Gallery (1965-1984), located in the Hotel Okura Tokyo. She also collected Japanese textiles and stencils, which were exhibited throughout the United States and Australia. In the 1970s, she published two books on Japanese design, both of which were reprinted. Japanese patterns come in many forms and all have a hidden meaning. Very much found on the kimono and other Japanese clothing, they are called wagara. Most of the traditional Japanese patterns dates back to the 8th century and are inspired by nature, of which the symbolism is very strong in Japanese culture. In Japanese culture, there is a real language of patterns, each representing one or more Japanese symbols - the kimono wouldn't be so fascinating without these magnificent historical Japanese designs that constitute the richness of Japanese art. Geometric Japanese patterns are great classics found on many Japanese fabrics. They can be self-sufficient or serve as a background for a more elaborate pattern. Timeless, some geometric patterns are extremely ancient and yet still used today to adorn modern Japanese kimonos. In Japan, each flower has its own meaning according to its appearance and characteristics. Thus, each flower is associated to a specific Japanese symbol, a virtue, an emotion. Japanese also have a word to name this: Hanakotoba which means "language of flowers".…