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Summary of the Silver Studio Collection analysis data

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journal contribution
posted on 2018-06-13, 10:36 authored by Mamiko MarkhamMamiko Markham
The Silver Studio Collection at MoDA includes around four hundred Katagami, dating from the early nineteenth century. MoDA’s collection of Katagami is one of the significant public collections of Katagami in Britain. 
My research for the MoDA Katagami project includes analysis of images of the Katagami, including infra-red photography. It is the first time that the technique has been used in England. In 2016 we secured funding from Arts Council England for research on this collection. Our focus is on Katagami as a source of inspiration for artists and designers, both historically and today.
https://moda.mdx.ac.uk/2017/12/06/Katagami-findings/
I gained the majorities of information from photographs of the Katagami.
Photographs avoid undue handling of the stencils and are visually easier to sort and look-up.
Both ordinary and infra-red high definition photographs are required, but infra-red light delivers greater clarity of contrast in the information present. Recycled Washi paper was often used in the making of Katagami during the late Edo period (1780) to the middle Meiji period (1890). Barely discernible under normal light, some of the written letters and documents revealed interesting dating information. Infra-red photography can also improve readability of marks such as stamps, signatures and or handwriting which have faded through age. The merchants who traded Katagami placed their stamps on the Katagami. These assist in identifying the merchant or dying company and in determining dates and geographical origin of each stencil.

Funding

Arts Council England

History

Value

  • normal

AccessType

  • open

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    Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture (MoDA)

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