Block print decor has a long history
Block printing has a very long history, originating in China nearly 4000 years ago.
The first block printed item in recorded history was a book. A picture book, the Diamond Sutra, was printed 300 years before the Gutenberg Bible. It took another 2000 years for block printing to become synonymous with India and fabrics.
The Mughal Dynasty began in India in the early 16th century and was a tremendous influence on the arts of that country, from fabrics and patterns to the building of the Taj Mahal. The Dynasty lasted 200 years but the residual influence continues to this day. Block printing, particularly on fabric, was one way of building layers of colours and patterns in a consistent and repeatable manner. Little has changed in how block printing is still done today.
Blocks are hand carved from thick pieces of wood, with a rough handle on the back of each. Every part of the pattern has its own block so the more intricate patterns with several colours require a number of carved stamps. Plain-woven cotton is washed, beaten against rocks to make it softer, then left to dry and bleach in the sun. It’s then dyed to the base colour. Once dry, the stamping begins. The fabric is stretched over a long table and a chalk line is drawn to begin. The stamp is dipped in ink and hand pressed or tapped with a hammer to create the pattern. You can imagine how long it takes to fully stamp a floor rug or yards of fabric. As this is a stamped-by-hand process, no two items are exactly the same.
The colours and dyes change depending on the regions of production in India. A well-stamped pattern can be so perfect, it’s almost impossible to tell it was hand done. Fabric could have two colours or a dozen, each one stamped individually to build the pattern. The printed patterns of intricate leaves, vines and flowers are still the most popular today.
In the past few years there has been renewed interest in block printed fabrics, in particular, on floor mats and table linens. The fabrics are soft and pre-washed to bring out the best in the cotton. The patterns are equally soft, a gentle blend of colours developed from natural dyes. The range of blues is quite lovely. Other colours are grey, terra cotta, ivory and charcoal.
As we transition into fall, our home decor changes as well. We want to warm up the spaces, adding colours and textures to floors and tables, to couches and chairs. A number of new linens are block printed and add that fall feel. The prewashed look of the mats and rugs makes you feel like you have an heirloom piece. The table linens add interest to your white dishes. And everything washes beautifully.
DID YOU KNOW?
The oldest dye colour in the world is likely indigo. A 6,200-year-old piece of woven cotton fabric found in Peru has been identified as dyed with indigo.